ILO and NEBOSH join forces to boost safety in Guyana

PORT OF SPAIN (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) Caribbean Office and the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) have begun implementing a new initiative to strengthen occupational safety and health (OSH) systems in Guyana, following an agreement signed earlier this year. The project is already bringing together government, employers and workers to advance a shared agenda for safer workplaces and stronger labour institutions.

Supporting safer growth

Guyana is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, driven by major oil and gas developments alongside expansion in construction, agriculture, mining and tourism. Recent data from the national Labour Force Survey show a strong labour market recovery, with roughly 100,000 jobs created in recent years and unemployment falling sharply to 4.2 per cent. This rapid growth is generating jobs but also increasing exposure to occupational risks.

The country has taken important steps, including ratifying the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), in 2012 and adopting a national OSH policy in 2019. However, significant gaps remain. Guyana has yet to ratify the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), and its OSH Act of 1997 requires modernization to address emerging hazards, particularly in the rapidly expanding energy sector.

Tripartite engagement and strengthening national systems

Working with the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI), and the two national trade union centres - the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) - the project will develop a national OSH profile to identify gaps and inform policy. It will support the updating of the national OSH policy, the drafting of a national OSH programme, proposed amendments to the OSH Act and the development of regulations specific to the oil and gas sector.

Targeted training for OSH inspectors, employers and workers will run in parallel, drawing on NEBOSH’s internationally recognized expertise in oil and gas operational safety.

The project has already completed an important first milestone. During an inception meeting convened with government, employer and worker representatives, participants reviewed and endorsed the project’s implementation approach and priorities. The discussions reaffirmed broad support for strengthening Guyana’s OSH framework through social dialogue and tripartite cooperation.

The project also supports the strengthening of Guyana’s tripartite National Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH), which is expected to play a central role in guiding consultations, validating key outputs and fostering national ownership of the reform process. The Government is currently considering the formal appointment of Council members as part of the project’s launch phase.

ILO Caribbean Office Director Joni Musabayana welcomed the agreement, stating:

“This partnership represents concrete action to support the implementation of Guyana’s Decent Work Country Programme and the priorities identified by government, employers and workers. We are moving beyond commitments to practical measures that will strengthen institutions, improve workplace safety and help ensure that Guyana’s economic transformation is accompanied by stronger protections for workers.”

Andy Shenstone, NEBOSH Chief Executive, said the partnership reflected the organization's commitment to reaching workers in underserved regions and high-risk industries.

“As a charity and a leading global organization in health and safety education, NEBOSH exists to make a positive difference to people’s lives through safer and healthier workplaces. Through funding from our Social Purpose Programme, this collaboration with the ILO in Guyana allows us to put that mission into action - supporting safer workplaces in high-risk sectors and delivering lasting impact through skills development.” Andy Shenstone.

Looking ahead

The next phase of implementation is expected to begin in July with a national launch, stakeholder consultations and the first round of capacity-building activities. These engagements will support the preparation of Guyana’s national OSH profile and lay the groundwork for legal and policy reforms, including updates to the OSH Act and the development of sector-specific regulations for oil and gas.

This project fully aligns with the programmatic priorities set out in ILO’s Global Strategy on OSH (2023-2030). It is implemented within the framework of the ILO Global Programme Safety + Health for All that aims to promote safe and healthy working environments worldwide.

Delivering on national priorities

The initiative contributes directly to the implementation of Guyana’s Decent Work Country Programme 2025–2030, which identifies the modernization of occupational safety and health systems as a national priority. It is also part of the ILO’s global flagship programme Safety + Health for All and supports the implementation of the ILO Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health 2024–2030.

As Guyana’s economy continues to expand, strengthening occupational safety and health systems will be critical to ensuring that growth creates not only more jobs, but safer and better jobs. Through this partnership, the ILO, NEBOSH and Guyana’s tripartite constituents are working together to build the institutions, skills and protections needed to support sustainable growth and decent work for all.

About NEBOSH

The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) is a leading global charity which provides health, safety and environmental qualifications. Its qualifications help raise the competence of professionals and individuals at all levels in the workplace, and tens of thousands of people from more than 150 countries study for a NEBOSH qualification every year. 

NEBOSH has also been honoured as the Awarding Organization of the Year by the Federation of Awarding Bodies and, in 2025, strengthened its reputation for exceptional achievement with two further awards: Learner of the Year and the Special Recognition Award.

In 2025, it launched its Social Purpose Programme to further its mission to improve health, safety and environmental standards worldwide. The programme aims to tackle inequality in workplace health and safety, particularly in regions where educational, financial, and regulatory resources are scarce. It also looks to improve accessibility and diversity within the occupational health and safety profession.