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PM says Gov’t Committed to Effective Social Protection

By: , May 25, 2016

The Key Point:

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to pursuing effective social protection and human capital development, even as it strives for shared prosperity, economic growth and job creation.

The Facts

  • The Prime Minister said legislation towards the development of a Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme is being done to allow tourism workers to access retirement incomes.
  • Two Codes of Practice related to Education, Training and Employment for the Disabilities Act are to be developed, to serve as complementary guidelines to the Act.

The Full Story

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to pursuing effective social protection and human capital development, even as it strives for shared prosperity, economic growth and job creation.

Making his 2016/17 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, yesterday (May 24), the Prime Minister said as part of this move, the Government intends to engage in a comprehensive review of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), inclusive of a review of the National Insurance Act 1966.

This is aimed at safeguarding the National Insurance Fund and strengthening the NIS’ capability of providing financial protection to its citizens, as well as ensuring that persons can maintain an acceptable standard of living in retirement.

“A prosperous society is one where every Jamaican has the opportunity to achieve his or her potential, through a meritocratic system that promotes social mobility,” he said.

The Prime Minister said legislation towards the development of a Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme is being done to allow tourism workers to access retirement incomes. The legislation will be tabled in Parliament in January 2017.

Additionally, he announced that the effective date of the Disabilities Act, which was passed in October 2014, will be set. The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities will also be re-established as a Body Corporate to better serve the needs of the disabled.

“The Ministry of Labour will (also) be developing the Regulations, which will outline the sanctions for discrimination against persons with disabilities and also provide information on the exceptionalities in the Act,” Mr. Holness said.

Two Codes of Practice related to Education, Training and Employment for the Disabilities Act are to be developed, to serve as complementary guidelines to the Act. It will also provide direction to the public on the appropriate ways of interacting with and accommodating persons with disabilities.

Last Updated: May 25, 2016

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