Latest update April 28th, 2026 12:30 AM
Unemployment and private sector working hours
DEAR EDITOR,
Each day you open the newspaper, it is always about the Amaila Hydro Project. As a Guyanese, I stopped reading about it a few weeks ago, and I am sure many other Guyanese have stopped too. It is like children writing each other, trying to justify something.
In life, people do not want to hear what are the issues, we need solutions, I remember many years ago my boss telling me, ‘do not bring problems to me, tell me what are the solutions to deal with those problems’.
It is good to read that Qualfon will be opening a new office at Providence, possibly in the next two years. If it is true that 6000 people will be employed or even half of that number, it is still better for the working class in Guyana.
Now to the subject of this letter.
I would like to make some suggestions to the Private Sector, Ministry of Labour, and to all those that are involved in helping to reduce the nation’s unemployment and to share the pie to almost everyone.
The reason I used the word almost, is because many people might not agree with my suggestions, but if we are a Cooperative Republic, then why should anyone have any issues?
Almost all the developed countries’ private stores, supermarkets, malls, shops, bars etc., are open 12 or more hours per day for many reasons, here are some of them:-
(1) Have double employees (6 hours per shift) – more people are employed (helping the Government)
(2) Increased profit/sales.
(3) Encourages employment and of course, reduces unemployment
(4) Assists in the development of the country
(5) Caters for workers who work late and need to shop
(6) Caters for people who generally like shopping late – and not during the day, but in the evening.
(7) Caters for family shopping (this means the whole family comes, instead of just mom or dad, (builds togetherness).
The Government should work with the private sector at changing their business hours, possibly from 8am to 8pm (12 hours) with double shifts. This means we will employ double the people we presently have employed, Georgetown will be busier and more money will circulate. There will be more spending for everyone as you will have more people with jobs.
The security sector should be involved in the discussion for the protection of all. The operators of minibuses, taxis and other forms of transportation will operate later, to everyone’s benefit. Not only the private sector will gain based on more spending, but so will the Government, on NIS contributions, employment tax, etc.
This can also be a benefit for part time work of young people going to university and for parents that do not need a full time job. Families will have more spending opportunities and will be able to support their households better. This can reduce many social issues affecting the country.
I hope the people that have the power to make some changes for all, read, understand and possibly implement the above mentioned in the near future.
A. Whyte
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