Employment contracts in Guyana should clearly specify the principal terms and conditions of employment.
Probation
Probationary periods may be agreed in writing and should be reasonable in relation to the nature of the employment. The typical period is three months, adjustable if both parties agree.
During probation, either party may terminate in accordance with the notice provisions agreed in the contract and the applicable legislation.
Why the start date matters so much
Severance is calculated on completed years of continuous employment, and the rate changes at two boundaries:
- After year five, the rate doubles from one week to two weeks per year
- After year ten, it rises again to three weeks per year
A few weeks either side of those boundaries changes the calculation materially.
If you started before your contract was formalised, keep evidence of the real date.
What to check before signing
- The start date, for the reasons above
- Your wage, since severance and NIS benefits both derive from it
- Annual leave — the statutory floor is around two weeks, and energy sector contracts often give much more
- The probation period and its notice terms
- Whether severance replaces a gratuity under your arrangement
Foreign nationals
Employment requires the necessary work permits and satisfaction of immigration requirements.
Equal treatment
Employers must provide equal treatment during recruitment and may not discriminate unlawfully on protected grounds under the Prevention of Discrimination Act.
Warning signs
Be cautious about paying for a job, for certification, or for placement before being hired. The oil boom has attracted fraudulent offers, and payment requests are the clearest signal.
Keep your records
Contract, payslips, evidence of your start date and the certificate of termination when you leave. The Act requires employers to keep records; keeping your own protects you where they have not.