[Guyana] 36% minimum wage increase takes effect July 1

Private sector employees in Guyana will begin receiving a 36 per cent minimum wage increase from tomorrow (July 1), taking their salaries to GUY$60,147, The Gleaner reports.

A government statement said the increase has been officially gazetted and has now been signed by the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton. One Guyana dollar is equal to US$0.004 cents.

According to the statement, the move fulfils a commitment made by the government soon after coming to power in the controversial 2020 election won by the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

It said the government had established a new committee, including representatives from the Private Sector Commission, the Guyana Manufacturing Service Association (GMSA) and all Chambers of Commerce, to immediately hold discussions on the proposed GUY$60,000 increase.

President Irfaan Ali recently announced that the Cabinet was in full agreement with the recommendations made by the tripartite committee to increase the minimum wage.

According to the Gazette, any worker being paid at a wage rate higher than that prescribed should continue to receive that amount and not suffer a reduction in rate as a result of the order.

The Gazette also calls for workers to have a normal work week of 40 hours which should not exceed five days per week. Any hours of work beyond the normal working hours will reportedly result in the employee being paid at minimum rates set out by the Hours and Holidays Act and the Labour Conditions of Employment of Certain Workers Act, or any other law in force where workers are represented by a trade union.

Any employer who breaches the order's provisions will be liable to conviction and a fine of GUY$50,000 for the first offence with the fine increasing to GUY$100,000 and imprisonment of one month for a second conviction.

Private sector employees in Guyana will begin receiving a 36 per cent minimum wage increase from tomorrow (July 1), taking their salaries to GUY$60,147, The Gleaner reports.

A government statement said the increase has been officially gazetted and has now been signed by the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton. One Guyana dollar is equal to US$0.004 cents.

According to the statement, the move fulfils a commitment made by the government soon after coming to power in the controversial 2020 election won by the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

It said the government had established a new committee, including representatives from the Private Sector Commission, the Guyana Manufacturing Service Association (GMSA) and all Chambers of Commerce, to immediately hold discussions on the proposed GUY$60,000 increase.

President Irfaan Ali recently announced that the Cabinet was in full agreement with the recommendations made by the tripartite committee to increase the minimum wage.

According to the Gazette, any worker being paid at a wage rate higher than that prescribed should continue to receive that amount and not suffer a reduction in rate as a result of the order.

The Gazette also calls for workers to have a normal work week of 40 hours which should not exceed five days per week. Any hours of work beyond the normal working hours will reportedly result in the employee being paid at minimum rates set out by the Hours and Holidays Act and the Labour Conditions of Employment of Certain Workers Act, or any other law in force where workers are represented by a trade union.

Any employer who breaches the order's provisions will be liable to conviction and a fine of GUY$50,000 for the first offence with the fine increasing to GUY$100,000 and imprisonment of one month for a second conviction.