-inspects 24 camps, addresses labour concerns
TO ensure that workers are better aware of the labour laws and are not exploited, Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir last week spearheaded a three-day outreach to Mahdia, Region Eight, and surrounding communities. The outreach which saw visits being made to about 24 mining camps, allowed workers an opportunity to discuss labour issues currently being experienced, with the subject minister.
Minister Nadir told the workers that they must be given their rightful benefits, regardless of where they are employed.
He highlighted the importance of the labour laws, particularly those dealing with compensation for workers who sustain injuries on the job.
Minister Nadir pointed out that while the outreach by the Labour, Occupational, Health and Safety (LOH&S) Department of the Ministry dealt with pressing issues affecting workers especially in mining camps, it also sought to educate operators and claim holders on their obligations, in keeping with the labour laws.
The Ministry in 2010, successfully conducted over 900 claims by workers against employers, which resulted in payments of approximately $30M in benefits to workers.
Besides sensitising employers and employees to the labour laws, HIV/AIDS testing and counselling were also conducted by qualified personnel.
“This area is known as one of the high risk behaviour areas; and as such, we have been encouraged to promote and highlight the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle. This is part of our first half of the year outreach to communities throughout the country,” Minister Nadir said.
In February, similar exercises were conducted by the Ministry at Charity, Region Two; Bartica, Region Seven; and in Region One.
According to Minister Nadir, the team is slated to visit Lethem, Region Nine; and Linden, Region Ten shortly, which will bring the curtain down on similar activities for the first half of 2011.
“We are not only taking our services out to the people, with respect to health and safety inspection at workplaces and HIV and AIDS testing; we are also sensitizing persons to the Ministry’s Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency’s services, job training and training programmes offered throughout by the Board of Industrial Training Programme,” he added.
The Labour Minister, while deeming the outreach a success, also lauded the support of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), which has been instrumental in leading the team to and from respective gold and diamond mining camp sites.
A community meeting was also held in the mining town, where similar issues were discussed as well as Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and child labour cases.
Minister Nadir and team were accompanied by Region Eight Chairman, Senor Bell. (GINA)