Charles Praises ILO Global Jobs Pact

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has congratulated the International Labour Organization (ILO) for developing the Global Jobs Pact as a response to the prolonged global increase in unemployment.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon Pearnel Charles

“Jamaica has benefited significantly from these efforts,” Mr. Charles said in his message to the 99th Session of the ILO in Geneva, Switzerland, which was read by team member, Professor Neville Ying, on June 15.
“I wish to congratulate the ILO for developing the Global Jobs Pact in June last year and having it accepted by governments, employers and workers’ representatives from 183 countries, and the follow-up work done to consolidate support from G20 countries and international financial institutions,” he said.
Mr. Charles stated that Jamaica has benefited from these efforts, including securing a standby agreement from the IMF and complementary funding support from other international bodies, such as the IDB and the World Bank.
Faced with the prospect of a prolonged global increase in unemployment, poverty and inequality and the continuing collapse of enterprises, the ILO adopted a Global Jobs Pact at its 98th Session in 2009, designed to guide national and international policies aimed at stimulating economic recovery, generating jobs and providing protection to working people and their families.
The Global Jobs Pact was adopted, following strong support voiced during a three-day ILO Global Jobs Summit, by heads of state and government, ministers of labour, worker and employer representatives and other leaders. The summit also provided strong support for an enhanced involvement of the ILO in the G20, with regard to employment and social protection.
Mr. Charles should have led Jamaica’s delegation to the 2010 ILO Conference, which ran June 2-18, but was unable to attend due to local commitments.
The other members of the Jamaican delegation were: Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) Professor Ying, who is also adviser to the team; President of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), Lloyd Goodleigh; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF), Brenda Cuthbert; and head of the Household Helpers Association of Jamaica, Shirley Pryce.