The National Covid-19 Task Force has confirmed plans to go ahead with Phase Three of Guyana’s reopening process which will see the resumption of office work in the public and private sectors.
This will take effect on July 18, 2020, and will see scores of employees who were remotely working from home for months now returning to the office.
It will, however, be done on a rotation basis unless otherwise instructed by their respective Minister or Head of Agency.
“All persons employed within the Public Service, a semi-autonomous agency, statutory body or State-owned enterprise shall not work remotely from home but shall work on rotation unless otherwise instructed by their respective Minister or Head of Agency,” the new notice on COVID-19 emergency measures stated.
The notice said private sector entities may be opened but employees shall work on rotation as determined by their employer.
“Every employer shall ensure a roster is prepared setting out a gradual return of employees, starting from the most essential and critical staff with 20 per cent increment of staff strength every week or a rotation system where 50 per cent of the staff are at the workplace on different days, to prevent crowded offices for a minimum period of a month after which the situation may be reassessed,” the notice added.
Employers are expected to ensure that appropriate COVID-19 guidelines are prepared and implemented to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus among workers.
The guidelines should see the physical distancing, screening of workers, organisation of work, preventative measures before and after work, procedures to be adopted when there is a suspected Covid-19 case at the workplace, cleaning and disinfecting protocols and use of personal protective equipment among others.
These measures may be terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.
