Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma D. Griffith, delivered the feature address at the 7th IUF Caribbean Regional Conference, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.
The conference seeks to bring together regional and international trade union representatives to discuss key labour issues, strengthen collaboration, and advance the rights and well-being of workers across the Caribbean.
In his address, the Minister highlighted the rapid transformation of the world of work and underscored the importance of preparing the workforce through skills development, training, and strengthened labour protections.
He also reaffirmed the Government of Guyana’s commitment to advancing decent work, promoting social dialogue, and ensuring that workers across all sectors are equipped to thrive in an evolving labour landscape.
Meanwhile, IUF Caribbean Regional Secretary, Clifton Grant, acknowledged the mounting challenges confronting workers and their families, including the ripple effects of ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Drawing on the teachings of Dr Jagan, he highlighted their continued relevance in addressing contemporary struggles.
He pointed to increasing attempts in some countries to curtail freedom of association, while commending Caribbean affiliates for their resilience in defending workers’ rights.
He also drew attention to the escalating impacts of climate change on the region’s people and economies.
Furthermore, IUF General Secretary (a.g.), Kristjan Bragason, addressing the Conference during his first visit to Guyana, spoke to the intensifying pressures faced by workers globally.
He noted the widening gap of inequality, the growing concentration of corporate power, and the relentless rise in the cost of living.
These global trends, he affirmed, are mirrored in the Caribbean context.
Brother Bragason emphasised that effective organising remains the cornerstone of progress, particularly among women, youth, and migrant workers.
He called for deeper international solidarity, recognising that as capital has globalised, so too must the struggle for workers’ rights.
He expressed confidence that the Conference provides a vital opportunity for strategic reflection and coordinated action that will strengthen the IUF at both regional and global levels.
Bringing solidarity greetings, Derek Johnstone of the United Food and Commercial Workers (Canada) highlighted the indispensable contribution of Caribbean migrant workers to North American agriculture.
He noted that their labour underpins the profitability and sustainability of food systems in the region, yet lamented that many are subjected to exploitative conditions akin to a modern form of servitude.
He called for urgent reforms to dismantle exclusionary systems and ensure that migrant workers’ rights are fully respected, expressing a strong commitment to collaboration with Caribbean partners.
The Opening Session also featured messages of solidarity from IUF affiliates in Guyana — the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) — alongside contributions from the Young Workers Committee and the Women’s Committee.
The strong, principled tone set during the Opening Session signals a Conference poised to deliver meaningful dialogue, strategic direction, and renewed momentum in advancing the rights and dignity of workers across the Caribbean.
