-by Nakasia Logan

The push for safer workplaces took centre stage today at the Occupational Safety and Health Symposium, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, revealed that the country has already recorded 13 workplace fatalities between January and April 2026. He described these figures as unacceptable and underscored the critical need for stricter compliance with health and safety standards.

“The statistic for January to April 2026 are deeply troubling. For this period there has been 13 work place fatalities and 64 non-fatal incidents. This increase is unacceptable and underscores the urgent need for stricter compliance and health and safety protocols,” he said.

Minister Griffith also highlighted ongoing efforts by the Ministry to strengthen occupational safety systems, including thousands of workplace inspections, sector-specific training, and national outreach initiatives conducted between 2020 and 2025.

These measures, he said, contributed to a decline in incidents in previous years, but the new statistics demand renewed urgency.

The call for stronger workplace safety measures was echoed by Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who stressed the importance of protecting, supporting and enabling all workers to thrive.

“It is a privilege and profound responsibility to stand before you on this world day for safety and health at work and to do so here in Guyana at a moment when the stakes of this conversation have never been higher and our commitment to getting it right has never been more urgent,” the PM said.

The Occupational Safety and Health symposium forms part of the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning’s observance of Occupational Safety and Health Month.