The 7th Caribbean Regional Conference of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) commenced this morning (March 26, 2026) on a resolute and forward-looking note, anchored in a shared commitment to defend Caribbean workers against exploitation, informality, and all forms of indecent work.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, paid tribute to the enduring legacy of Cheddi Jagan, whose lifelong struggle for justice and dignity continues to inspire not only Guyana but the wider Caribbean. The Minister expressed the view that Cde Cheddi would take pride in the Government’s ongoing efforts to advance the welfare of working people.
Minister Griffith welcomed delegates to Guyana and underscored the profound transformations reshaping the global world of work. As artificial intelligence, mechanisation, and automation accelerate structural change, he emphasised the urgent need to equip workers with the skills, protections, and opportunities necessary to navigate this transition. He called on the Conference to prioritise strategies to build and sustain human capital across the region.
Highlighting the importance of inclusion, the Minister stressed that special attention must be given to women and other vulnerable groups to ensure they are uplifted, protected, and fully integrated into economic progress. He described the Conference as a critical platform for strengthening regional institutions, empowering workers, and safeguarding the well-being of their families. He urged delegates to engage in purposeful dialogue and to leave with concrete commitments to advancing the interests of Caribbean workers.
IUF Caribbean Regional Secretary, Clifton Grant, acknowledged the mounting challenges confronting workers and their families, including the ripple effects of ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Drawing on the teachings of Dr Jagan, he highlighted their continued relevance in addressing contemporary struggles. He pointed to increasing attempts in some countries to curtail freedom of association, while commending Caribbean affiliates for their resilience in defending workers’ rights. He also drew attention to the escalating impacts of climate change on the region’s people and economies.
IUF General Secretary (a.g.), Kristjan Bragason, addressing the Conference during his first visit to Guyana, spoke to the intensifying pressures faced by workers globally. He noted the widening gap of inequality, the growing concentration of corporate power, and the relentless rise in the cost of living. These global trends, he affirmed, are mirrored in the Caribbean context.
Brother Bragason emphasised that effective organising remains the cornerstone of progress, particularly among women, youth, and migrant workers. He called for deeper international solidarity, recognising that as capital has globalised, so too must the struggle for workers’ rights. He expressed confidence that the Conference provides a vital opportunity for strategic reflection and coordinated action that will strengthen the IUF at both regional and global levels.
Bringing solidarity greetings, Derek Johnstone of the United Food and Commercial Workers (Canada) highlighted the indispensable contribution of Caribbean migrant workers to North American agriculture. He noted that their labour underpins the profitability and sustainability of food systems in the region, yet lamented that many are subjected to exploitative conditions akin to a modern form of servitude. He called for urgent reforms to dismantle exclusionary systems and ensure that migrant workers’ rights are fully respected, expressing a strong commitment to collaboration with Caribbean partners.
The Opening Session also featured messages of solidarity from IUF affiliates in Guyana — the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) — alongside contributions from the Young Workers Committee and the Women’s Committee.
The strong, principled tone set during the Opening Session signals a Conference poised to deliver meaningful dialogue, strategic direction, and renewed momentum in advancing the rights and dignity of workers across the Caribbean.
