Dear Editor,
As a public communications analyst and a citizen who has lived outside of Guyana for more than twenty years, I believe we need to have a serious national conversation about the labour crisis currently developing in Guyana.
Guyana has welcomed a significant number of legal immigrants from different countries and backgrounds, many of whom have made Guyana their home and are contributing to various industries. There is nothing inherently wrong with Guyana providing opportunities for foreign nationals to work and build a better life. In fact, Guyanese citizens themselves have benefited from opportunities to live and work throughout CARICOM, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Migration and the movement of labour are part of our increasingly interconnected world
However, we must also examine what is happening to Guyanese workers within our own labour market. Guyana has invested significantly in education and skills development, including programmes such as the GOAL scholarship programme, from which many citizens, including myself, have benefited. Yet we continue to see qualified Guyanese struggling to secure meaningful employment, while others are forced into underemployment or positions that do not adequately reflect their education, experience and qualifications.
At the same time, there appears to be growing demand in some industries for bilingual employees, particularly Spanish-speaking workers, as well as workers from other countries. Again, the issue should not be about nationality. If an employer legitimately requires particular language skills, technical expertise or experience that is difficult to find locally, there should be room for qualified foreign workers. The concern arises when the availability of cheaper labour begins to influence the wages, working conditions and employment expectations of the wider workforce.
Guyanese workers should not be expected to accept lower wages simply because another worker is willing to accept less. They should not be expected to tolerate unsafe, exploitative or unacceptable working conditions because someone else is prepared to do so. Most importantly, labour laws and established employment standards should apply equally, regardless of whether the worker is Guyanese or a foreign national.
This is where stronger national oversight and enforcement become important. Guyana must ensure that our labour market remains competitive while protecting workers from exploitation and preventing a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions. Employers should be encouraged to invest in Guyanese talent, provide meaningful training and development opportunities, and recruit internationally when there is a genuine skills or labour shortage—not simply because foreign workers can be employed more cheaply.
Guyana is experiencing rapid economic transformation, and with that transformation comes the responsibility to create an economy that works for everyone. We can welcome immigrants, support businesses, attract international investment and participate in the global labour market while still protecting the dignity, rights and economic opportunities of Guyanese workers.
The objective should not be to favour Guyanese over foreigners, or foreigners over Guyanese. It should be to ensure that everyone who works in Guyana is treated fairly, paid fairly and protected by the same labour standards. If we fail to address these issues now, we risk normalising poor employment practices at precisely the moment when Guyana should be raising its standards.
Our economic growth should not only be measured by the number of new businesses, investments or foreign workers entering the country. It should also be measured by whether ordinary Guyanese can find decent employment, earn a living wage, use the qualifications they worked hard to obtain and build a secure future in their own country.
Sincerely,
Mr Blane R Bunbury
Public Communications Analyst
& community advocate
Discussion