Georgetown: Measures that would limit the use of cell phones in the workplace are being implemented in Guyana by several companies in an effort to increase productivity.
According to the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association (GMSA) employees reportedly spend long periods of time chatting, texting and playing computer games during the working hours when they should be working.
The association said it is cognizant of the fact that telephones, cellular phones and other instruments of communication are work tools. However, the call for greater awareness of and adherence to business time restrictions by employees functioning at management and non-management levels, the GMSA said, is important in every factory, service facility and office.
“Several member companies have informed the association that their internal Human Resources regulations have already addressed the issue stating that cellular phones should not be utilized during specified hours. However, this directive is often observed in the breach and employers are concerned that the practice could present situations that affect employees’ safety as well as the integrity of equipment and machinery,” GMSA said.
Some company heads reported that they have successfully enforced ‘No Exemption’ policies and have instituted specific compulsory measures for storage of employees’ personal items.
“The GMSA’s Board of Directors has acknowledged that this practice by many employees, not only in the manufacturing and services sectors, would obviously result in lost production time. More importantly, it will affect the quality of end products due especially to inattention on the production line. Extrapolated, poor quality of Guyana’s manufactured products will hinder the association’s efforts to source international expertise and financing to effectively upgrade our products and production capacity to international standards, and allow them fair competition on Caribbean and international markets,” the association said.
GMSA said it is considering several options to address this issue which includes policy solution.
“In addition, recent discussions have pointed to indiscriminate use of cellular phones and hand-held radio transmission sets by members of the public in banks and hospitals despite posted admonitions and warnings that the signals could affect sensitive equipment,” GMSA pointed out.
A survey will be undertaken to first identify the sub-sectors most affected. “The GMSA also intends to involve other Business Support Organizations and regulatory agencies in a concerted effort to promote implementation of effective cell phone restrictions that will lead to greater efficiency and safety in the work environment and in service institutions.”
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