MINISTER within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott has said that the Government is ready to support the private sector in their effort to absorb the retrenched sugar workers.

Over the past few days members of the private sector have mobilised teams and visited communities where persons are directly affected by the downsizing of the sugar industry.

Earlier this year, cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) had to lay off some 4,000 workers in order to keep the sugar industry viable, but government had forged ahead with training for those former employees, with support from the Small Business Bureau and other stakeholders.

“It has been admirable that they can begin to show that they are cooperative entities and that they think about the population,” said Scott, adding that he lauds the efforts of the private sector to ensure that those workers do not remain unemployed for long.

The minister urged the private sector to keep up their effort because the more workers they take off would result in the alleviation of the existing conditions. “If at any point they feel the government’s input in training or any respect is needed then we stand ready to do that,” he said.

Only recently, ex-sugar workers of the Wales Sugar Estate, West Bank Demerara (WBD) were sensitised about the hundreds of employment opportunities in the private sector at a job fair at the Patentia Market Square (WBD).

The fair was organised by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and received support from various ministries, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and over 20 local companies. The event saw close to 800 residents of Patentia and surrounding areas being hired on-the-spot by various private and public companies.

PSC Chairman Edward Boyer had said the fair is part of the commission’s effort to ensure the retrenched sugar workers find work.

The PSC also took the fair to the Enmore ground where former workers of the East Demerara Estate were told that the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) alone has 200 companies which are members of the chamber.

Speaking at the job fair, Managing Director of Gaico Construction and Services, Komal Singh had also challenged retrenched sugar workers to prepare for change and explore the opportunities set before them.