The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party is raising urgent alarms over workplace safety at Guyana’s largest gold-mining operation, the Chinese-owned Zijin Gold Mountain Ya Mei Construction Inc., after allegations surfaced that local workers are being exposed to severe underground hazards without adequate protection.
Guyana’s gold-mining sector remains one of the strongest pillars of the non-oil economy, earning nearly US $1 billion in 2024. With 434,067 ounces produced—an increase of US $181 million over the previous year—the industry continues to be a vital source of foreign exchange and rural employment. Even as the oil sector now dominates national revenue, gold has historically accounted for more than half of Guyana’s exports and contributed roughly 8.8% of GDP as recently as 2022, cementing its role as the backbone of the traditional economy.
It is against this economic backdrop that WIN’s allegations have triggered public concern. According to the party, a local worker contracted a lung infection after prolonged underground exposure to dust and was reportedly met with hostility when he requested basic personal protective equipment (PPE). WIN stated that the worker, “upon requesting PPE, was cursed at by the Chinese” management team.
The party says the case reflects broader failures in oversight: “Despite numerous complaints to the Ministry of Labour, no corrective action has been taken. WIN calls on the Ministry of Labour to promptly intervene in this matter,” the statement added.
In response, Minister of Labour Keoma Griffith has directed the Occupational Safety and Health Department to launch an immediate investigation. A team is expected to visit the operation, interview workers and management, and assess the underground environment to determine next steps.
Labour and industry observers note that safety compliance in Guyana’s mining sector has long been uneven. The allegations against Zijin once again highlight tensions between foreign-owned mining companies and local labour protections, raising concerns about whether Guyanese workers are being adequately safeguarded in high-risk environments that generate substantial national revenue.
The United Nations and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) maintain that “every worker everywhere is entitled to a safe, healthy workplace”—a fundamental right that must be upheld through strong laws, prevention systems, enforcement, and cooperation among employers, governments, and workers.
With gold mining serving as a major driver of the non-oil economy, the outcome of the investigation will test the strength of Guyana’s regulatory framework. WIN argues that the delayed response suggests deeper systemic shortcomings in workplace oversight, especially where multinational operators are involved.
