SOCIAL contract theory is the view that persons’ moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live (Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy).At the most basic of man’s civil existence, there exists a social contract between the Government/State and the people. The people vote for a government, relinquishing some of their individual liberties in return for the State’s protection. Consequently, there exist laws outlining how the State must be managed on behalf of the people, and agreement that the people shall obey the laws in return for their development and the nation’s sovereignty.

In Guyana, there exists a tripartite industrial relations system, which comprises of Government, Employers’ and Workers’ Representatives. This is structured off of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) principles. Here a social contract is deemed necessary to ensure a stable industrial relations environment in furtherance of turning the wheels of production based on established principles safeguarding and protecting the workers’ and employers’ rights and wellbeing.

Outside of the government being an employer, as custodian of the nation’s sovereignty, it shoulders the responsibility of ensuring conformity to local laws and international conventions and charters which allow the creating of equal opportunity for all towards building the nation’s economy.

As President Granger continues to call for, and present the case for, the necessity of a social contract, it needs being remembered that a social contract currently exists between the citizens and the government, in accordance with its three branches vis. Executive, Judicature and Legislative. These branches are funded by the people, and are established to work in the interest of the people. As such, the people shoulder the responsibility to ensure that all the branches are working in their interest.

This foundational premise, when allowed to work in the interest of the people, creates opportunity to establish a social contract built among the stakeholders within the industrial relations system. Such a contract will commit stakeholders to production and economic realities. Workers and employers will be asked to give commitments in ensuring certain production levels and economic indicators are attained, from which workers will benefit through incentive schemes or increased wages and salaries.
These achievements are expected to be conducted within a framework that is free of discrimination and full of meeting the ILO Core Labour Standards and honouring Labour laws. In fact, the workplace must be free of hazards; and government, employers’ and workers’ representatives must respect the laws and collective labour agreement to the letter.
In all three applications (people and government; tripartite relations; and employers and workers) government carries the responsibility to lead the way.

As it relates specifically to the social partners in the industrial relations system, the ministry that has responsibility for labour is required to act, having been given the green light from the president’s announcement.

There is also evidence in CARICOM of existing social contracts. In the instance of Barbados, it operates among the three social partners (government, employers and trade unions). In the instance of Jamaica, there has been a sectoral partnership agreement between the trade unions and employers. Jamaica’s contract attends to three primary areas, namely (i) stable industrial relations environment, (ii) production levels,  and (iii) incentive scheme and increased wages and salaries.

Research by the newspapers revealed that the employers’ and workers’ organisations (i.e. trade unions) presented proposals to the Government of Guyana during the PPP administration as far back as 2000. In that President Granger has once again brought to the nation’s consciousness this issue, which he had also articulated as Leader of the Opposition; and given that work has already been done, there is no need to re-invent the wheel. Actions should now be taken to have the stakeholders collectively engaged in further activities to bring this policy to fruition.