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POPULATION

0.8m

CURRENCY

$ (GYD)

CAPITAL CITY

Georgetown

Overview

Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America. Known for its lush rainforests, diverse wildlife, and stunning landscapes, Guyana is a popular destination for ecotourism and adventure travel. From the bustling streets of Georgetown to the serene landscapes of Kaieteur National Park, Guyana offers a wealth of cultural and natural attractions.

Guyana's economy is diverse, with key sectors including agriculture, mining, and services. The country is a major exporter of gold, bauxite, and sugar. Guyana's growing economy and improving infrastructure make it an attractive destination for foreign investment.

Learn about EOR in Guyana
The contents of this article is not legal advice and should be used for reference only. If in doubt, please seek independent legal advice from a lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.

The information provided in this article is provided for general informational purposes only. Accuracy, completeness, or reliability is not guaranteed. This content does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice and should not be relied upon. Any use of the information is at your own risk. Users are responsible for independently verifying any information. All materials are provided "as is," without any warranties of any kind, express or implied and Atlas Technology Solutions, Inc. disclaim all liability arising from use of, or reliance on, this content

Local Employment Regulations

Last updated on March, 22nd, 2023

Employment Contracts

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.

Working Hours

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.

Public Holidays

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

Employment Termination/Severance

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.

Compensation

Bonuses are not required in Guyana.

Population 0.8m

Population in total, including all residents regardless of legal status © 2024 - WBG • EUROSTAT

27.3%

Urban Population

81.7%

Internet access

100%

Mobile phone access

DATA SOURCES

Population: The World Bank: World Development Indicators: World Bank Group • World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), uri: https://population.un.org/wpp/, publisher: UN Population Division; Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices, National Statistical Offices, uri: https://unstats.un.org/home/nso_sites/, publisher: National Statistical Offices; Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, Eurostat (ESTAT), uri: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database?node_code=earn_ses_monthly, publisher: Eurostat; Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), United Nations (UN), uri: https://unstats.un.org, publisher: UN Statistics Division

Urban Population: The World Bank: World Development Indicators: World Bank Group • World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), uri: https://population.un.org/wup/, publisher: UN Population Division

Internet access: The World Bank: World Development Indicators: World Bank Group • World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, ITU (ITU), uri: https://datahub.itu.int/

Mobile phone access: The World Bank: World Development Indicators: World Bank Group • World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, ITU (ITU)

Social Protection & Benefits

Last updated on March, 22nd, 2023

Vacation Leave

Employees paid on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis receive one day of paid leave for each month of service in Guyana. Employees paid daily receive one day of paid leave for every 20 days worked. Employees paid hourly receive one paid day of leave for every 160 hours worked.

Sick Leave

Employees are not entitled to employer-paid paid sick leave in Guyana but may be eligible for benefits under the social security system. Eligible employees receive 70% of their average wage after the third day of illness for up to 26 weeks. To qualify, employees need to have been employed just prior to becoming sick, have made at least 50 contributions and eight contributions in the 13 weeks before becoming ill.

Maternity/Paternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 13 weeks of maternity leave in Guyana paid through Guyana’s social security system. In some cases, thirteen more weeks are permitted up to a maximum of 26 weeks. A female employee qualifies for maternity benefits if she or her spouse makes at least 15 contributions to social security, including seven contributions in the 26 weeks before taking leave. Female employees have a four-week window for filing a claim for maternity benefits, starting nine contribution weeks before the expected leave date. The time can be reasonably extended for people in remote areas. A person failing to make a claim for benefits during the prescribed time is disqualified from receiving benefits.

Health Insurance Benefits

The healthcare system in Guyana consists of both public and private sectors. Residents get public health insurance through the social security system. For some, private insurance is a secondary source of coverage. To access specialist care, a primary care physician referral is mandatory.

Unemployment 10.2%

Share of the labor force that is unemployed, but available for and seeking employment © 2024 - WBG • ILO

49.6%

Labor force population share

42.3%

Female share of labor force

76%

Healthcare access

DATA SOURCES

Unemployment: The World Bank: World Development Indicators: World Bank Group • ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), ILO (ILO), uri: https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/bulk/, publisher: ILOSTAT, type: external database, date accessed: January 07, 2025.

Labor force (total): The World Bank: World Development Indicators: World Bank Group • ILO (ILO), type: estimates based on external database; United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division; Staff estimates, WBG (WB)

Labor force population share: The World Bank: World Development Indicators: World Bank Group • ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), ILO (ILO), uri: https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/bulk/, publisher: ILOSTAT, type: external database, date accessed: January 07, 2025

Female share of labor force: The World Bank: World Development Indicators: World Bank Group • ILO (ILO), type: estimates based on external database; United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division; Staff estimates, WBG (WB)

Healthcare access: The World Bank: World Development Indicators: World Bank Group • GHO, WHO (WHO), uri: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/service-coverage

       

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