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Labour minister concerned about rise in work place deaths
…13 deaths, 64 accidents recorded since January
Labour Minister Keoma Griffith has issued a stark warning: rising workplace deaths in 2026 are “unacceptable” and demand immediate, stricter enforcement of safety laws across Guyana.
Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith
Speaking at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) during the opening ceremony for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Symposium 2026, Griffith, reinforced that Guyana has already made meaningful strides in advancing occupational safety and health. He noted that between 2020 and 2025, the ministry conducted 6,186 inspections, benefiting over 27,000 workers country-wide. “Contributing to a 12.78 per cent decline in work-related fatalities and a near 50 per cent reduction in non-fatal incidents,” he noted. However, the minister warned that recent figures remain concerning, revealing 13 workplace fatalities and 64 non-fatal incidents for the period January to April 2026.
“This increase is unacceptable and underscores the urgent need for stricter compliance and health and safety protocols,” he stressed. The labour minister further emphasised that “occupational safety and health standards must not be optional, they must be rigorously enforced across every sector”.
He also noted that compliance alone does not protect workers, stating that prevention will. Minister Griffith explained that workplaces must address both physical and psychosocial risks, including stress, burnout, and harassment.
A section of the crowd at the opening ceremony of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Symposium 2026.
A new global report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said that more than 840,000 people die each year from health conditions linked to psychosocial risks, such as long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment. These work-related psychosocial risks are mainly associated with cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, including suicide. The report also finds that these risks account for nearly 45 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually, reflecting years of healthy life lost due to illness, disability, or premature death, and are estimated to result in economic losses equivalent to 1.37 percent of global GDP each year.
The report, ‘The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action, highlights the growing impact of how work is designed, organized, and managed on workers’ safety and health. It warns that psychosocial risk factors—including long working hours, job insecurity, high demands with low control, and workplace bullying and harassment—can create harmful working environments if not properly addressed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Mark Phillips said Guyana is meeting the modern standards of occupational safety systems and policies. Speaking at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) during the opening ceremony for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Symposium 2026, the prime minister stated that our occupational safety systems and policies have been reviewed and strengthened, and that we continue to assess improvements at the policy and legislative levels. He underscored at the opening ceremony that with Guyana’s rapid economic expansion, particularly in the energy sector, there has been a need to make strong safety frameworks essential.
“We will not trade safety for speed because the value of human life is paramount in everything we do as a nation”, he stated. The prime minister also highlighted a shift in focus beyond physical safety, pointing to psychosocial risks in the workplace. “Sustainable productivity is inseparable from balance,” he said, adding that work-life balance and mental well-being are critical to reducing errors, improving morale, and ensuring workers perform at their best. (DPI)
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Why are deaths of workers (fishermen) who accidentally die at sea not recognise as workplace deaths? It is time they are recognise as such so that safety measures are enforced and compensations are made available.