THE Ministry of Social Protection said it stands ready and willing to work with all stakeholders — both private and public — to champion any future policy modification necessary to guarantee the social and economic advancement and status of women, especially single-parent women, in Guyana.

The ministry’s comments were made in a statement on Monday further clarifying that the recent statement by Junior Social Protection Minister Keith Scott on banning single mothers from doing night security was not a policy of the administration.
“The Ministry of Social Protection wishes to notify that while it remains open to practical options that would provide flexibility for working single-parent women in Guyana, it is fully committed to adopting measures and policies that would not contribute or impede single-parent women being hired in all sectors of the economy.”

According to the ministry, it has no current or future intention to create any policy that would exclude single-parent women from any sector in Guyana, whether it is voluntary or involuntary. “We are cognisant of the far-reaching consequence of the implementation of such a policy such as the widening of the gender gap which the ministry has been working towards bridging those gaps for years.”

The ministry said an important aspect of its mandate is to remove constraints to women’s economic participation in the workforce and to ensure that all women, especially those facing intersecting forms of discrimination, have equal access to employment free from gender discrimination, including discrimination based on traditional sex stereotypes, pregnancy, and parenting.

“For decades, women have been fighting the stereotypical perception that they should not seek careers that may not suit their social status. However, the ministry remains resolved to continue and not hinder the work that we have begun regarding gender parity, because of pregnancy and motherhood. We are committed to ensuring that all sectors work better for women, ensure equal access to gainful employment; the provision of equal terms of conditions for women, safe working conditions and ensuring women’s full participation in the economy which is vital to achieving sustainable development in Guyana.”

Last week, Minister of State Joseph Harmon made it clear that there is no ban on the employment of women working at night, allaying the fears of many following the proposal by Scott. Harmon said that in relation to the question about a night-work ban for women working in private security companies, the Minister of Social Protection is responsible for the protection of all Guyanese including women, and therefore it is quite appropriate for concerns to be expressed about the conditions under which women work at night. Harmon, however, made it clear that there is no policy position approved by Cabinet where there is to be a ban on females working in security services at night.

Minister Harmon said, “As far as the government is concerned, we have had no debate on the matter. The senior Minister of Social Protection in that regard would have to bring a paper to Cabinet and Cabinet will have to debate on it. Until such time that that occurs, the situation remains as it is and that is to say that women will continue to work either day or night and there is no restriction on them.”

Minister Harmon has instead indicated that Government is calling on security companies to acknowledge and recognise that there are special conditions under which women should work and therefore those facilities for women should also be acknowledged and recognised by security firms. “There is no restriction on their right to work, what we will ask and we will insist is that the employers who employ women must ensure the conditions under which they work that they provide for the special arrangements which have to do with women in the workforce.”

The Minister of State added too that Government is always open to advice as he stressed that the rights of workers must always be protected in the actual payment which they receive for the work that they do. He noted too that “these persons’ national insurance contributions must be paid. So there is an obligation on the part of the employer and an obligation on the part of the employee.” Minister Harmon said that the State will provide the legislative and regulatory frameworks within which that relationship between employer and employee exists.

The Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations (GAPSO) had condemned Scott’s proposal, saying that more research is needed before any move is made toward the elimination of single mothers from working at nights in the private security industry.