Jagdeo: 60,000 more Guyanese working, 50,000 completed or under training 

The local labour force has seen major expansion and training under the current government, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said on Wednesday, crediting job creation initiatives and skills programmes with transforming the employment landscape.

“In the five years under the PPP… 60,000 people more are working,” Dr Jagdeo told reporters at his weekly press briefing ahead of Labour Day observance. “That is what you should really be talking about. Who has generated more jobs?” he said.

According to the Vice President, the government’s approach is grounded in job creation, not merely cash handouts, with increased employment across sectors including oil and gas, sugar, retail, and bauxite.

He contrasted the current administration’s record with that of its predecessor, pointing to widespread job losses under the APNU+AFC coalition before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In every sector… people talk about slow business. There was no money in circulation,” he said, citing lost jobs in Kwakwani’s bauxite sector, and reductions in gold mining and forestry.

Beyond direct employment, Dr Jagdeo highlighted significant investment in training. More than 30,000 scholarships were awarded through the GOAL programme, with an additional 20,000 Guyanese trained via the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) and the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). “So, not just more jobs, but more training… to get a better quality labour force,” he added.

There has also been a notable increase in part-time employment, especially among women. Some 14,000 to 15,000 part-time jobs are now available, with workers receiving $40,000 monthly for 10 days of work and access to study opportunities.

The teacher workforce has expanded from 12,000 to 15,000, while over 6,000 teachers are currently undergoing training.

Public sector workers, Dr Jagdeo noted, now receive $105 billion more annually in wages, benefits, and bonuses than they did in 2020.

In addition, the Vice President pointed to gains in labour rights, citing new multi-year collective bargaining agreements with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU). Nearly 5,000 workplace inspections conducted under improved occupational safety laws.

The Local Content Act, passed under the current government, has also compelled oil and gas companies to hire nearly 10,000 Guyanese.

“This is what has happened,” said Dr Jagdeo, adding: “Working people have made enormous progress in these years.”