Labour Ministry hosts job fair to connect people with opportunities

The Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning on Wednesday opened the Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) Village and Job Fair, with the aim of directly connecting job seekers with employment opportunities while promoting workplace safety and skills development.

The two-day event, which is being held in observation of Occupational Health and Safety Month features 37 participating businesses, along with agencies and organisations showcasing career opportunities, workplace safety practices, and practical tools for both workers and employers.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Griffith said the initiative is designed to ensure that Guyanese can immediately benefit from the country’s expanding economy.

“The aim is to ensure that with all that is happening in Guyana that persons can have a system where they are employed and they can leave today with opportunities,” he said.

Over the past five years, Griffith said more than 1,000 jobs have been created, stressing that each job carries wider impact beyond individual employment.

“Every job represents an opportunity. An opportunity not just for transformation but as well an opportunity to bring transformation to the lives of other persons,” he said.

Griffith urged job seekers to make full use of the platform, especially young people looking to enter the workforce.

He described the fair as “a call to connect with employers, to ask questions, submit applications and to network with purpose.” He also highlighted that the event goes beyond job placement, focusing on career development and skills alignment with market needs.

“At a time when Guyana’s economy is expanding and diversifying, we must ensure that our people are not just observers of growth but active participants in it.

“Employment is not just about income, it is about dignity, independence, building, and future,”Griffith said.

Alongside job placement, the OSH Village is being used as an interactive platform where safety practices, innovations in risk management, and practical tools are being shared.

“Let this health and safety village and job fair not be seen as just another event but as a movement…towards safer workspaces, greater awareness, stronger institutions and expanded opportunities for all,” Griffith urged.

The job fair runs from April 29 to 30, from 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs at Main Street Avenue, Georgetown.