Cabinet has approved a 28.5 per cent increase in the national minimum wage, effective April 1, 2022. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda, says this will see the rate moving from $7,000 to $9,000 per 40-hour work. Mr. Samuda further advised that Cabinet approved increases in the minimum wage for industrial security guards, which will move from...

A sum of $300 million has been budgeted to continue implementation of the Improvement of the Emergency Communication System in Jamaica Project in fiscal year 2022/23. Details are outlined in the 2022/23 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled recently in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke. The project, being spearheaded by...

The county’s security capabilities have been significantly strengthened with the addition of six new armoured vehicles to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) fleet. Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, commissioned the Thales Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (BPMV) into service during a ceremony at the JDF’s headquarters, Up Park Camp, Kingston, on Monday (February 21). Manufactured...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) wishes to advise the public that the printing of Driver’s Licences at the May Pen Tax Office is suspended until further notice. This change has become necessary due to a hardware issue with the driver’s licence printers, which continues to impact the twenty (20) day turnaround time in which driver’s licence applications are processed, resulting in...

The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDco) has embarked on a series of workshops to resensitise players in the tourism sector about the coronavirus (COVID-19) health and safety protocols and to encourage greater take up of the vaccines. The sessions, being conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, commenced on February 17 in Montego Bay, St. James, and...

The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) remains on track for rollout of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) during the first quarter of 2022. Deputy Governor with responsibility for Banking, Currency Operations, and Financial Markets, Natalie Haynes, said that several key outputs are being targeted for the period. These are passage of amendment to the Bank of Jamaica Act to make...

Healthcare workers will be better able to offer cancer screening and awareness training in rural and underserved communities, following the handover of a bus to the Jamaica Cancer Society. The 15-seater, 2021 Toyota Hiace bus, which costs US$43,000, was donated through the collaborative efforts of the Rotary Club of St. Andrew North and corporate Jamaica. It was handed over today...