The Ministry’s Annual Occupational Wages and Hours of Work Survey 2010, begins Tuesday next week, according to a release from the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security. The survey will cover questions on wages and hours of work of various occupations as well as employment costs component. Statistics on wages and hours of work comprise one of the main branches of labour statistics. They are essential in evaluating conditions of work.

Wages Data provides 1) the ground work for effective Career Planning and Counselling, 2) facilitates efficient allocation of educational resources and overall educational planning, 3) provide data to potential investors and employers, and 4 ) provide data to unions and workers for effective bargaining.

Wages of employees vary according to the level of education, skill, occupation, type of industry, size of establishment, geographical location among other variables.

Data Extraction from Establishments
In this survey the reference month is July 2010. Information would be secured from wages and salary sheets of the establishment for the reference period.

Collecting Authority
The conduct of this survey is guided by authority from two main sources.
(1) ILO Convention 160 and recommendation 170, which deal with labour statistics and the importance of countries ensuring that these types of statistics are regularly compiled.
Guyana is a member of the ILO and has strongly supported the progressive policies of the ILO.

(2) Chapter 98:01 of the Laws of Guyana is another collecting authority. This law requires businesses to submit information on labour statistics to the Ministry of Labour.

Response Rate.
Confidentiality stipulations will be strictly adhered to ensuring that the report will not identify the individual businesses, but will highlight the various trends in industries.
The response rate from this survey is expected to be very high, which will allow for greater accuracy in the report. The Ministry of Labour Human Services and Social Security has done six surveys thus far . For information on these please see our website.

Heartfelt gratitude is also extended to both public and private establishments for your continued cooperation since the Ministry of Labour, Human services and Social Security is fully cognizant of the importance of your contributions to the success of this year’s Occupational Wages and hours of work survey.