Ministry of Labour and Social Security
Government of Jamaica
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda has pledged to grow the Overseas Employment Programme to 30,000 participants over the next four years. Each year, approximately 7,000 Jamaicans participate in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security led programme on H-2A (Agricultural) and H-2B (Hospitality) visas. Another 6,000 Jamaicans are placed in the…
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Direct foreign investments in Jamaica’s hospitality sector have not waned, even with tourism being badly affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic. This is according to Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett whose confidence is fueled by confirmation that 980 new rooms will be added to the nation’s stock. The minister was in Madrid, Spain, attending the…
Jamaica will be piloting a resolution on strengthening nursing and midwifery at the 74th World Health Assembly (WHA), which is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 24 to June 1. The resolution is expected to lead to the adoption of the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021-2025. This was disclosed by State…
President of the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation, Wayne Chen, is calling for local employers to embrace flexible and remote work in order to become more productive and globally competitive, and to design a system to measure employee output when they operate outside of the workplace. “We have a psychological hang-up in Jamaica about control, so that…
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government remains committed to taking steps to boost the complement of nurses in Jamaica’s public health system, in order to address the shortage of personnel largely as a result of attrition. These measures, Mr. Holness said, include continued pursuit of bilateral arrangements and bolstering the availability…
By Jonielle Daley At least 1,000 small and medium-size enterprises and small entrepreneurs islandwide will gifted a free e-commerce website with free hosting on Sunday, May 16, courtesy of WiPay Jamaica. This will be facilitated via an online session for which businesses will need an email address to sign up using the registration portal on…
KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) January 2021 Labour Force Survey (LFS) is showing increased employment for the construction industry and the ‘professionals, senior officials and technicians’ occupational group. Details of the findings were outlined by Director General, Carol Coy, during the institute’s digital quarterly briefing yesterday. Coy advised that the number of…
WITH NEARLY 70 per cent of the country’s population falling within the working-age cohort of 15-64 years as at 2018, director for Policy Research at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Suzette Johnson, says that there is opportunity to boost the country’s productivity in order to further improve economic growth. She was speaking at the…
By Tameka Gordon Despite an anticipated eight per cent decline in the local economy for the first three months of 2021, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has said that its projections are in line with a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast of 1.5 per cent growth this year. The nation’s planning agency…
By Jonielle Daley Bosses seeking to stipulate employee vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of work have been warned that they would be hard-pressed to impose that standard on the grounds of public safety. Emile Leiba, president of the Jamaican Bar Association, said if any company sought to make immunisation a pre-employment condition, it would…
The Government has crafted a lean Budget for the upcoming fiscal year, focusing on an ambitious vaccination programme and jobs as linchpins to spark economic recovery. Both the recurrent and capital budgets are flat year on year, but the Government plans to introduce a $60-billion programme it dubs ‘Serve Jamaica’, aimed at facilitating the vaccination…
The country’s unemployment rate increased by 3.5 percentage points between October 2019 and October 2020 to leave 10.7 per cent of Jamaica’s labour force unemployed. The number were released yesterday by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) which further noted that the labour force declined by 51,500 or 3.8 per cent over the year. During…
The Statistical Institute of Jamaica’s (STATIN) October 2020 Labour Force Survey showed increased employment for ‘Real Estate and Other Business Services’. This was the only industry group to record a growth in employment for the period. STATIN Director General, Carol Coy, said that the workforce climbed by 11,100 persons, or 11 per cent, to 105,400.…
By Garwin Davis The University of Technology (UTech), come January 2021, will be offering a landmark four-year Bachelor of Science (BSc/) degree in Mines and Quarry Management. The brainchild of Associate Professor and Head of the School of Building and Land Management at UTech, Laurence Neufville, the course will not only target students from Jamaica…
Labour and Social Security Minister Shahine Robinson is to be accorded an official funeral. In a statement Tuesday evening, Jamaica House said details of the funeral will be announced later. Robinson died at the age of 66 years on May 29, ending her battle with cancer. In the meantime, the Cabinet has approved a period…
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is advising National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pensioners that they are able to encash all pension vouchers with payable dates in June. The early encashment will only be available at the post offices. The National Commercial Bank (NCB) will only cash pension vouchers on or after the date payable.…
Keith Duncan, chairman of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee, EPOC, says the committee members are satisfied that Jamaica’s current macroeconomic programme is sufficiently robust and will provide a road map for full recovery of the economy. He said that while the Government is projecting a 5.1 per cent contraction of the economy in fiscal year…
By Mark Titus THE GOVERNMENT has answered the call of stakeholders in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector for an extension to the ongoing work-from-home arrangement by agreeing to a three-month extension. However, major players are still pushing for a year-end reprieve. Daryl Vaz, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job…
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is imploring Employers to allow workers the necessary period of absence and/or quarantine if required. This privilege should be extended even beyond the provisions under the Holidays with Pay Act. We all have a responsibility to prevent the spread of the novel corona virus (COVID 19). A message…
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is encouraging all Employers and Business Operators to take the necessary steps to protect workers from the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19). Employers are urged to provide workers with the appropriate tools and information needed to prevent the spread of the virus. Keep abreast of the guidelines and instructions…
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is encouraging all Employers and Business Operators to explore options for extending their services remotely to customers. This move is recommended as a precautionary measure to safeguard customers and workers to prevent the spread of the New Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employers are also encouraged to make use of the…
By Mark Titus Despite the alarming rate at which lives are being lost to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in North America, Jamaicans are still willing to take the risk to participate in the seasonal overseas work programmes. However, this time they have to sign a waiver absolving the Government of any liability if they become…
By Janet Silvera Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has said that while the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought tourism to a grinding halt, the industry remains optimistic. Bartlett, who was addressing stakeholders from his Knutsford Boulevard offices on Thursday on the way forward for the industry, said that contrary to the doomsday predictions that are…
By Romario Scott Some groups left reeling from the economic fallout of COVID-19 and its attendant social restrictions are in line to receive financial assistance. A programme is being developed for taxi and bar operators, barbers, hairdressers, market vendors, and domestic workers, Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke revealed yesterday. “We are working on a programme…
KINGSTON, Jamaica. March 18, 2020. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security completed its third day of distributing welfare package to the families in the quarantined communities of 7 Miles Bull Bay. The Ministry began its relief effort on Saturday, March 14, 2020. To date, a total of 900 welfare packages containing basic food supplies, toiletries and…
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is encouraging the use of its Labour Market Information System (LMIS) app and website by workers and employers. Speaking at the south-eastern region mega roadshow, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston on January 30, State Minister, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Zavia Mayne, said that since…
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Audley Shaw says the micro-small -and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector is providing stable revenue and employment for Jamaica. In a speech delivered by principal director in the ministry, Michelle Parkins, at Mona Graphic Printers (MGP) 25th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony in Kingston, last Friday, Shaw said the…
Director General of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Carol Coy, is informing that the ‘clerks’ occupation group accounted for the most significant increase in employment recorded in the October 2019 Labour Force Survey. Speaking during STATIN’s quarterly briefing at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Friday (January 17), Coy noted that the…
THE Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) in its latest labour force survey findings has indicated that the country’s unemployment rate continues to trend downwards while female employment increases. The country’s chief data processing entity, while presenting its review at a media briefing held at the Knutsford Court Hotel on Friday, noted that for October 2019…
THE Ministry of Labour, through its Labour Market and Information System (LMIS), is on a recruitment drive, targeting young people living in the parishes of Kingston, St Thomas and St Catherine, as part of its efforts to help increase youth employment. Job seekers, such as cashiers, gas station workers, data entry clerks, administrative staff, security…
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) says it has increased its engagement of Jamaican chambers of commerce to encourage enterprises to use the agency’s services. JAMPRO noted that it has already engaged six chambers of commerce across the island, with more planned for early 2020. According to JAMPRO, chambers of commerce in Trelawny, Savanna-La-Mar,…
The first batch of farm workers for 2020 began departing the island for Canada on Friday to take up employment opportunities under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme. The final set is scheduled to leave today, January 6, for a total of 228. The customary send-off ceremony was held for the workers at the Ministry of…
Sandals Resorts International, through its Sandals Corporate University, has partnered with the HEART College of Hospitality Services to launch an events planning and management training programme geared specifically towards enhancing the capabilities of entertainment managers in the hospitality industry. The nine-month associate degree programme is a modified version of a similar course being offered by…
Tourism is one of the leading industries in Jamaica, with the country welcoming more than three million visitors annually, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). “We are playing on the same stage with our global counterparts, but for us to remain competitive, we ought to be using technology to enhance our services,” said Dwayne…
By Steven Jackson JOBS ARE on the rise across Jamaica and unemployment is at a low 7.8 per cent, but the head of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, Statin, fears the slowdown of the global economy might cut into the gains and reduce the pace of job growth in the medium term. “Because the Jamaican economy…
President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), Richard Pandohie is advancing the argument of Jamaica embracing outward migration as an economic strategy, while reducing the bureaucracy for skilled immigrant to fill existing vacancies locally. Delivering the keynote presentation at the Planning Institute of Jamaica 7th Labour Market Forum on Wednesday (September 18) at…
By Derrick Scott MICHIGAN, United States — Minister of Labour and Social Security, Shahine Robinson says there is a high demand for Jamaican workers in the hospitality industry in the state of Michigan, United States. Robinson, who was touring Michigan establishments hosting Jamaican workers, said the demand was created by their exemplary work ethic. Addressing…
By Karena Bennett The new hirings of men outpaced that of women in the latest quarterly jobs survey published by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, Statin. Combined, the increase in employment of both genders resulted in an overall dip in the number of Jamaica’s unemployed by 25,900 in the April 2019 survey, and cut the unemployment…
By Kellaray Miles As at April 2019, the unemployment rate stood at 7.8 per cent. The employed labour force increased by 29,900 people for this period when compared to April 2018. A breakdown of this figure shows an increase in the total number of males employed, accounting for 18,200, whilst female employment accounted for the other…
EMPLOYERS and training institutions are being encouraged to partner with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through the Labour Market Information System (LMIS), to build Jamaica’s workforce. The ministry’s LMIS is a Web-based job-matching facility that pairs jobseekers and employers. Senior labour market analyst in the Planning, Research and Monitoring Unit at the ministry…
The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) has begun its 2018 campaign to promote Jamaica as a location for shared services investments, with the aim of bringing more jobs to the business process outsourcing (BPO)
Business process out-sourcing (BPO) once viewed as a stopgap job option, has become a career of choice for many bright, young Jamaicans. In fact, many of them are moving to Montego Bay, St James, which has become the centre of the country’s BPO operations, to take up positions in the sector. Among them is Junior…
By Horace Hines MONTEGO BAY, St James — Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is reportedly interested in hiring more Jamaicans as the company, regarded as the world’s second-largest cruise operator, continues to grow. Royal Caribbean’s President and Chief Operating Officer Adam Goldstein
by Avia Collinder Jamaica’s cruise tourism market is expected at the very least to match last year’s unexpected performance, but there is hope that the number of visitors