This office was established by the Government through the Employment Exchange Act of 1944, which defines employment exchange as “any office or place established under this Act and used for the purpose of collecting and furnishing information, either by keeping of register or otherwise, respecting employers who desire to engage workplace and workpeople who seek engagement or employment.”

According to a release from the CRMA, this exchange was established to facilitate improved functioning of the Labour Market, bringing employers and employees together with a view to finding job placements for workers so as to encourage full utilisation of Guyana’s manpower.

The mission of CRMA is to contribute to the social and economic development of the country by providing effective and efficient employment services to job seekers and employers. The objective of the CRMA is to place individuals seeking jobs in suitable employment and provide career counselling and guidance.

CRMA’s functions include the registration of all unemployed persons, all unemployed persons who are actively seeking employment, maintaining records of notified vacancies, matching jobseekers with vacancies and arranging interviews and placing of unemployed persons into gainful employment.

The Agency registers application for employment, taking specific note of their occupational qualifications, experiences and desires, and interviews them for employment and evaluates, if necessary, their physical and vocational abilities.

Over the years 2004-2008, a total of 10,117 persons were registered for placement through the CRMA and of this number 7,030 were placed in employment through the Agency.

The registration and placement figures are a representation of persons who registered and were placed through the offices in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six. (GINA)