The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has delivered on a promise of assistance to a St. Ann mother and her disabled son. During a Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) town hall in the parish in January, 65-year-old Murrine Steer made an impassioned plea for help for her 44-year-old son, Kadia King Downer, who is physically disabled...

Discussions focusing on integrating more persons with disabilities in the overseas farm-work programme, among other areas, are continuing, says Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. Two individuals have already been recruited and are now making preparations to depart Jamaica. Mr. Charles said the Ministry is actively striving to increase the number of participants so that more...

The Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD) will host a free webinar to engage stakeholders in a discussion around the Disabilities Act. This will be held on Wednesday, February 28, under the theme ‘Communication Matters! Facilitating the Deaf Community’. It is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Executive Director of Jamaican Sign Language Bible Translation (JSLBT), Tashi Widmer, who will...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (left), engages in conversation with Human Development Programme Leader for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank Group, Emre Özaltın, during a recent courtesy call at the Ministry’s North Street offices in Kingston. The discussions focused on the Social Protection for Increased Resilience and Opportunity (SPIRO) Project, which...

The final audit and evaluation of the Public Sector Transformation Implementation Project is to be conducted in the upcoming fiscal year. Details of the undertaking are outlined in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, on February 15. The Ministry of Finance and...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (fourth left), shares a photo opportunity with the new team of executives from the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) during a courtesy call at King's House on February 20. They are (from left) board member, Clarence Frater; Vice President, Rodolph Thomas; President, St Patrice Ennis;  Vice President, Granville Valentine; Vice President,...

For the 2024/25 fiscal year, the Government is to expand coverage of social protection in Jamaica and strengthen its social protection delivery system, particularly its capacity to respond to shocks. This will be done through the Social Protection for Increased Resilience and Opportunity (SPIRO) project, at a cost of $62.2 million. It is being funded by the International Bank for...

The Government, with support from the World Bank, will begin implementation of the Social Protection for Increased Resilience and Opportunity (SPIRO) Project, to strengthen and expand Jamaica’s social protection systems. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure as he delivered the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament on February 15. He said one...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., (second right), signs the condolence book for late former Permanent Secretary, Anthony Irons, who passed away on February 1. Mr. Irons was Permanent Secretary in the Labour Ministry from 1989 to 2001. Looking on (from left) are Mr. Irons’ nephew and niece, Damion Edwards and Nicola Chung, and Permanent Secretary...