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Employment contracts in Guyana can be written or verbal, but it is advisable to execute a written contract. The contract should include:

• type of work,

• work hours, overtime and leave,

• salary, bonuses, and benefits,

• frequency and method of payment,

• duration of contract (if for a fixed term), and

• any other terms agreed to by both parties.

The standard work period in Guyana is 40 hours per week over six days. Employees generally work eight hours per day and receive a 60-minute break. Working hours may change with the seasons (summer or winter hours) and location of work. Standard hours also may vary by industry. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the standard rate. Overtime may be paid at double the standard rate on certain public holidays. Employees receive one day of rest every week and one half-day off on every other Sunday.

In Guyana, the public holidays are:

• New Year's Day Holiday

• Mashramani (Republic Day)

• Phagwah (Holi)

• Good Friday

• Easter Monday

• Labor Day / May Day

• Arrival Day

• Independence Day

• CARICOM Day

• Eid al-Adha

• Emancipation Day

• Youman-Nabi (Mawlid)

• Deepavali

• Christmas Day

• Boxing Day

An employment contract in Guyana may be terminated at the end of a fixed-term contract, by mutual consent, by the employer or by the employee. An employer is prohibited from terminating employment based on an employee’s legitimate leave of absence. An employee can be dismissed without notice or severance for serious misconduct. Absent misconduct, employers must provide notice of termination in advance and pay severance to the employee. The employer must give two weeks of notice to employees with less than one year of service and one month of notice to employees with one or more years of service. Employers may provide payment in place of notice. Employers must pay severance to employees with one year of service terminated for reasons other than misconduct or outside the probation period. Severance ranges from one to three weeks based on the length of service.

Bonuses are not required in Guyana.