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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (seated left), looks on as Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) Communications Advisor, Benjamin Murray (seated centre) signs a symbolic cheque for the OFVGA Scholarship Programme, at the launch event on Thursday (February 5) at the Ministry’s North Street offices. Also looking on are (standing, left) Acting Permanent Secretary, Dione Jennings; Public Relations Manager in the Ministry, Justine Bailey; and Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Donovan Williams. The grant, valued at Can$10,000, is aimed at offsetting educational and school-related expenses for 10 children or wards of Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) workers.

Jamaica and Canada Celebrate 60-Year SAWP Partnership with Scholarship Programme

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in partnership with Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA), launched a scholarship programme to support the children of current farm workers participating in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) in Ontario, Canada....

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), receives a token from President of the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ), Dr. Cassida Jones Johnson, at the opening ceremony of the HRMAJ’s 45th Annual Conference, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston on Wednesday (February 4).

Labour Minister Highlights Role of HR Professionals in National Development

Minister of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second right); Acting Permanent Secretary in the MLSS, Dione Jennings (right); President of the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ), Dr. Cassida Jones Johnson (second left) and HRMAJ Vice President, Michael McAnuff-Jones, sign the Statement of Intent document to formalise a partnership between the Ministry and the Association. The signing took place during the opening ceremony of the Association’s 45th Annual Conference, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston on Wednesday (February 4).

Labour Ministry Formalises Working Partnership With HRMAJ

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), presents a grant cheque to Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) Programme beneficiary, Chevanese Myrie, during a handover ceremony at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security office in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, on January 30. He is joined by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (second right); and Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.

Gov’t Commences ‘ROOFS’ Grant Disbursements for Hurricane Melissa Recovery

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Ambassador, the Hon. Audrey Marks, addresses the ceremony for the official launch of the implementation of the flexible work arrangement in the public sector at Jamaica House, St. Andrew, on January 29.

Government Launches Public Sector Flexible Work Arrangement

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second right), listens as Social Worker, Jada Brown (right), explains how tablet computers are utilised in fieldwork. Also listening (from left) are Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Service Fund (USF), Charlton McFarlane, and Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dione Jennings. The occasion was the handover ceremony for 200 tablets by the USF, held on Tuesday (January 27), at the Ministry’s North Street office in Kingston. The donation, representing the first tranche of 1,000 tablets valued over $79 million, will support the Ministry in conducting damage assessments on houses destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

2 weeks ago LabourSocial Security

Labour Ministry Receives 200 Tablets from USF to Aid Post-Hurricane Melissa Damage Assessments

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has received 200 tablet computers from the Universal Service Fund (USF) to support the Ministry in conducting damage assessments on houses that were destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The donation represents the first tranche of 1,000 tablets, valued over $79 million, to be handed over to the Ministry. The devices, which...

Executive Director, Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Dr. Christine Hendricks.

2 weeks ago LabourSocial Security

JCPD Responding to Needs of Persons with Disabilities

The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting members of the disabled community affected by Hurricane Melissa. Since the passage of the storm, the Council has been working closely with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) to identify, assess, and respond to the needs of individuals who have been impacted. Executive Director...

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson (centre), discusses Jamaica’s overseas employment programmes with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Colette Roberts Risden (second left), who has oversight responsibility for overseas employment programmes in the United States and Canada, during a meeting at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C. Also participating are Liaison Officers in the Ministry, Sheldon Brown, and Karlene Brown (right), and Minister Counsellor for Trade and Economic Affairs at the Embassy, Aliecia Taylor.

2 weeks ago Foreign AffairsLabour

Gov’t of Jamaica Pursuing Expansion of Overseas Employment Programmes In The United States

The Government of Jamaica is pressing ahead with efforts to expand the H-2A and H-2B United States (U.S.) work visa programmes. Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson, met with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Colette Roberts Risden, to review the current state and explore the future expansion of...

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon (centre), observes as Managing Director of the HEART/NSTA Trust, Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, extends greetings to Chairman of the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB), Damion McLean, during the handover ceremony for HEART’s Region I National Development Project, held at the JSB in Kingston on January 15.

3 weeks ago InformationLabourSocial Security

Gov’t Reaffirms Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognised as full citizens, with equal rights to access, participation and opportunity. “You can see our commitment in how we have been approaching post-Hurricane Melissa recovery,” she said during the official handover ceremony for...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, delivers the keynote address during the launch of the Shelter Recovery Programme (SRP), held on January 15 at the Office of the Prime Minister. The programme represents a multifaceted national response to support individuals and families whose homes were damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

3 weeks ago LabourSocial Security

Prime Minister Urges Vigilance Against Exploitation of Roofs Shelter Programme

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has cautioned beneficiaries of the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) initiative to remain vigilant against individuals who may seek to exploit the shelter assistance programme. “We have to be absolutely careful that there is no hijacking of a programme like this, that could have persons being caught paying for...

Director, Disaster Rehabilitation and Welfare Management, Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), Jacqueline Shepherd, encourages Jamaicans to secure important documents, during a recent JIS Think Tank.

3 weeks ago Hurricane Relief & RecoveryLabourSocial Security

Jamaicans Urged to Safeguard Personal Documents

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) is urging citizens to prioritise the safekeeping of personal documents as part of their overall disaster preparedness. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank focused on Earthquake Awareness, Director, Disaster Rehabilitation and Welfare Management, MLSS, Jacqueline Shepherd, said that while no one can be fully prepared for earthquakes, safeguarding documents is one...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, delivers the keynote address during the launch of the Shelter Recovery Programme (SRP), held on Thursday (January 15) at the Office of the Prime Minister. The SRP is a multifaceted national response designed to support individuals and families whose homes were damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

4 weeks ago Hurricane Relief & RecoveryLabourSocial Security

Gov’t Launches Shelter Recovery Programme to Aid Hurricane Melissa Victims

The Government has launched the Shelter Recovery Programme (SRP), a multifaceted and coordinated national response to support individuals and families whose homes were damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28. This initiative marks the country’s transition from immediate hurricane relief to long‑term recovery, encompassing the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and, where necessary, relocation of homes to restore dignity and...