The President of the Guyana Public Service Union has written to the Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, MP copied to President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan Ali on the subject as captioned. Hereunder, please find the content of the letter dated September 12, 2025.
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has noted the rising cost of living and the burden it has placed on workers, particularly, in the lower income bracket. The Union has also recognized your government’s acknowledgement of this urgent issue and the measures your administration had taken to alleviate the effects of rising food and other prices on the population.
The concept of a living wage in Guyana, particularly for Public Sector Workers, has been a recurring topic of discussion between the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Government. While specific figures for a universally agreed-upon “living wage” can be complex to define due to varying methodologies and economic factors, the GPSU has consistently advocated for wages that allow Public Sector Employees to meet their basic needs, including food, clothing, and shelter, and escape poverty. This advocacy intensified in response to the rising cost of living, which has disproportionately affected lower-income households.
The Government of Guyana has acknowledged the challenges posed by the rising cost of living and has implemented various measures to mitigate its impact. These measures have included targeted financial relief, and adjustments to public sector salaries. However, the GPSU has often argued that these adjustments have not been sufficient to bridge the gap between current wages and a true living wage, especially for those at the lower end of the pay scale, with the Union pushing for a more substantial and sustainable solution to address the issue of poverty among Public Sector Workers.
The economic models used to calculate a living wage often consider factors such as the average cost of a basket of essential goods and services, housing costs, transportation, and healthcare, aiming to ensure that a full-time worker can afford a decent standard of living without relying on additional social assistance.
The Public Servants we represent have demonstrated unwavering commitment, often under challenging circumstances, to deliver essential services to our citizens. Their invaluable contributions, which are critical to the effective functioning of our society, deserve to be recognized with fair and competitive compensation.
To address the significant and sustained rise in the cost of living the GPSU is proposing an additional 25% across-the-board wage increase for 2024 for all employees since it has become obvious what was offered is inadequate. This adjustment is necessary to protect our members from a decline in their purchasing power and economic stability. The Union is also proposing an across-the-board increase of 35% for 2026.
The GPSU also suggests that a wage policy be developed bilaterally to guide the wage increase over the next 5 years to meet the goal of a living wage particularly for the lower paid workers.
The GPSU has consistently called for increased funding for salary rationalization, and argues that recent Guyanese government budgets, while emphasizing capital works and infrastructure, have not allocated sufficient resources to human capital development, particularly regarding Public Servants remuneration and working conditions. Similarly, the GPSU accentuates that superannuation benefits also require urgent review to ensure that these categories of workers are adequately compensated.
In accordance with the Labour Act, Chapter 98:01 we are exercising our right to negotiate for new terms and conditions of employment, including adjustments to wages and salaries. We propose to begin negotiations immediately at a mutually agreeable location.
The Union is therefore requesting a meeting to deliberate on this issue and the way forward
