As the government continues to roll out its part-time jobs initiative, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh is urging Guyanese to shift their focus toward the growing number of full-time job opportunities now available across the country.
During an outreach in New Forest, East Canje at the weekend, Dr. Singh acknowledged the success of the part-time programme, which began in 2022 to help provide immediate employment support to those impacted by the closure of the sugar industry and the neglect of agriculture.
Initially launched to offer temporary work opportunities, the programme has seen significant demand, with thousands of applications still pending.
Dr. Singh revealed that in Region Six alone, there are about 3,000 pending applications for the 10-day part-time positions.
However, the minister pointed out that the economic landscape has shifted dramatically since the programme’s inception.
With large-scale infrastructure projects underway, such as road construction, school building, and hospital developments, the demand for full-time labour has increased substantially.
Construction companies, as well as state-run organisations like the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), are actively seeking workers to meet the needs of the growing economy.
“We have maintained the 10-day programme, but the reality is that the demand for full-time labour has surged.
“What you really need to be looking for is a full-time job because I am sure you don’t want to work only for 10 days,” Dr. Singh said.
While the part-time initiative was never meant to be a long-term solution, Dr. Singh highlighted that businesses and contractors in the region are actively hiring, and the need for workers is only expected to grow in the coming months.
For those currently participating in the 10-day programme, the minister assured that there could be opportunities for transfers to different positions or regions, depending on availability. However, he made it clear that the priority should be securing full-time employment that offers greater stability and benefits.
“We want everyone to eventually transition to full-time work, and you can still manage personal projects, like gardening, while holding a steady job,” Dr. Singh concluded.
“The goal is to move as many people into full-time work as possible, and the growing economy offers plenty of opportunities to do so.”
