By Tiana Cole | HGPTV Nightly Newsroom
General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, is responding to recent remarks made by Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton regarding the role and presence of migrant workers in Guyana.
Lewis insists that the government prioritize Guyanese workers, arguing that while the country welcomes international partnerships and labor support, it should not come at the expense of local employment opportunities or fair wages.
“You can’t be talking about foreign workers while Guyanese are on the breadline,” Lewis stated, calling for a comprehensive policy that ensures skills transfer, wage protection, and priority employment for Guyanese citizens.
His comments follow Minister Hamilton’s statements suggesting that migrant workers are essential to filling gaps in sectors where local capacity may be limited.
However, Lewis argues that the focus must shift to training and equipping Guyanese, particularly young people, to meet those needs — not bypassing them with foreign labor.
The growing debate comes as Guyana experiences a surge in development projects, attracting international firms and workers amid an oil-driven economic boom.
