Over 12,000 migrant workers registered in Guyana as Govt moves to strengthen monitoring systems -Min. Griffith

Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, has disclosed that more than 12,000 migrant workers were registered in Guyana in 2025, as the government continues to examine ways to strengthen monitoring systems amid the country’s rapid economic transformation.Griffith made the disclosure during an interview on the Starting Point podcast, hosted by Kiana Wilburg and Fareeza Haniff on Sunday, where he addressed questions about how the influx of foreign workers is being managed.According to the minister, the government already has mechanisms in place to monitor migrant labour, with the Ministry of Home Affairs playing a central role in the system, particularly in the issuing of work permits.“So I can tell you for 2020, we do have systems in place, right? It’s an inter-ministerial system,” Griffith explained.He noted that the Ministry of Labour works closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs to manage migration matters as they relate to employment.“Most of it is done by the Ministry of Home Affairs because it’s the Ministry of Home Affairs that has responsibility for security and for work permits,” he said.“And so the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Labor, we work on an inter-ministerial basis to try to manage the migrant workers or issues of migration in this country as it pertains to labor.”Providing updated figures, Griffith revealed that just over 12,000 migrant workers obtained work permits in Guyana during 2025.“For 2025, we had just over 12,000 migrant workers registered in Guyana through obtaining work permits,” he stated.Despite the systems already in place, the minister acknowledged that there is room for improvement and said steps are being taken to strengthen the existing framework.“Is there a system that can be strengthened? Yes, we acknowledge that,” Griffith said. “Are we taking steps to strengthen the system? Yes, we are.”He explained that discussions are already underway between his ministry and the Ministry of Home Affairs to review the current structure and explore ways of improving the system.“And so myself and the Minister of Home Affairs, we have started examining the issue, examining the current construct of the model, and looking at ways in which we can advance it towards a policy,” he said.Griffith also indicated that Guyana is monitoring developments at the regional level, particularly discussions surrounding a migration policy within CARICOM.“We’re also being cautiously optimistic about the policy that is about to come into fruition at the CARICOM level,” the minister said.While Guyana has not yet signed on to that regional framework, Griffith noted that the country’s approach could be informed by whatever policy eventually emerges.“And so we want to look at that as well… Guyana has not signed on to that policy. I don’t think the policy is complete, I should say,” he explained.“But the policy that we will enroll may be informed by the policy which is taken at the CARICOM level. So that’s how we’re trying to deal with it as best as we can for now.”