While it remains open to practical options that would provide flexibility for working single parent women in Guyana, the Ministry of Social Protection has announced that it is still fully committed to adopting measures and policies that would not contribute or impede single parent women being hired in all sectors of the economy.
The remarks by Senior Minister Ms. Amna Ally comes on the heels of recent statements by Minister within the very Ministry, Mr. Keith Scott, on the exclusion of single mothers from night shifts within private security firms.
According to Ally, the Ministry has no current or future intention to create any policy that would exclude single parent women from any sector in Guyana whether it is voluntary or involuntary. “We are cognizant of the far reaching consequence of the implementation of such a policy such as the widening of the gender gap which the Ministry has been working towards bridging those gaps for years,” Ally asserted.
Added to this, she pointed out in a statement that an important aspect of the Ministry’s mandate is to remove constraints to women’s economic participation in the work force and to ensure that all women especially those facing intersecting forms of discrimination have equal access to employment free from gender discrimination including discrimination based on traditional sex stereotypes, pregnancy, and parenting.
“For decades women have been fighting the stereotypical perception that they should not seek careers that may not suit their social status,” Ally underscored. She, however, noted that the Ministry remains resolve to “continue and not hinder the work that we have begun regarding gender parity because of pregnancy and motherhood.”
“We are committed to ensuring that all sectors work better for women, ensure equal access to gainful employment; the provision of equal terms of conditions for women, safe working conditions and ensure women full participation in the economy which is vital to achieving sustainable development in Guyana,” said Ally.
Moreover, the Ministry of Social Protection, she said, stands ready and willing to work with all stakeholders both private and public to champion any future policy modification necessary to guarantee the social and economic advancement and status of women especially single parent in Guyana.