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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (left), engages with residents during the Ministry's recent Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme field exercise at the Springfield Health Centre in the parish.

Gov’t Safeguarding Integrity of ROOFS While Delivering Benefits to Those in Need

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says the Government is committed to protecting the integrity of the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) Programme, while ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most....

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses a recent Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) town hall at Colonel Cove in Morant Bay, St. Thomas.

St. Thomas No Longer “Forgotten Parish”- Minister Charles Jr.

Time To Disassociate Forgotten Parish Status with St. Thomas – Minister Charles Jr.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses a corporate consultation hosted by the Institute for Workforce Education and Development (IWED) on Wednesday (July 1) at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

Gov’t Key to Driving Productivity – Minister Charles Jr.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second right), is presented with a gift by Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Kohei Maruyama (second left) during a courtesy call at the Ministry’s 1F North Street offices in Kingston on July 1. Sharing in the moment (from left) are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dione Jennings, and Chief Technical Director with responsibility for Social Security Division, Audrey Deer Williams.

PHOTOS: Minister Charles Jr. Receives Courtesy Call from Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica

Director of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Portia Magnus.

2 weeks ago LabourSocial Security

NIS Contributors Urged to Check Records Regularly

Contributors to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) are being encouraged to consistently check on their contribution records to ensure that employers are remitting the contributions. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Director of the NIS, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Portia Magnus, explained that there are some employers who are not compliant with the National Insurance Act. She...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., speaks during a Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities Town Hall Meeting at Colonel Cove in St. Thomas on June 23.

3 weeks ago LabourSocial Security

Persons With Disabilities Encouraged to Register With the JCPD

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., is urging persons with disabilities and their families to register with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), to access critical services, benefits and support available from the Government. Speaking at the first JCPD town hall meeting, held at Colonel Cove in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, on June 23,...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., speaks in the House of Representatives on June 23.

3 weeks ago Labour

Minimum Wage Moves to $17,000, Up from $16,000

The House of Representatives approved the Minimum Wage (Industrial Security Guards) (Amendment) Order, 2026 and the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Order, 2026, on Tuesday (June 23), thereby increasing the minimum wage from $16,000 to $17,000 per 40-hour work week, effective July 1, 2026. In his remarks, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said since its enactment...

Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Dr. Christine Hendricks, is encouraging residents from communities in St. Thomas to come out to the Council’s Townhall being held Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Colonel

3 weeks ago LabourSocial Security

JCPD Targets Underserved Communities in St Thomas with June 23 Townhall

The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) aims to reach underserved communities in St. Thomas through its Townhall slated for Tuesday, June 23, 2026. To be held at Colonel's Cove in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, the event is expected to last from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The Council’s Executive Director, Dr. Christine Hendricks, in an interview with JIS...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., delivers the keynote address at the World Productivity Day Forum 2026, held at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston on Friday (June 19). The event was hosted by the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC), an agency of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, under the theme, ‘Resilience: Built by People, Powered by Process, Focused on Productivity’.

4 weeks ago LabourSocial Security

Labour Minister Outlines Significance of Productivity in Country’s Future

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., has emphasised that Jamaica’s resilience in the face of several recent climate-related shocks has elevated productivity from a mere economic theory to a pillar of national survival. He outlined the devastation of Hurricane Melissa that caused approximately $1.95 trillion in damage (more than 50 per cent of Jamaica’s gross domestic...

State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Donovan Williams, displays the ‘Red Card to Child Labour’ during the Ministry’s recent World Day Against Child Labour Jingle Competition Awards Ceremony at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

4 weeks ago LabourSocial SecurityYouth

State Minister Urges Collective Action to Guard Against Child Labour in Jamaica

Safeguarding Jamaica’s children from exploitation, particularly child labour, requires the active involvement of citizens, families, employers, and communities, says State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Donovan Williams. Speaking during the Ministry’s recent World Day Against Child Labour Jingle Competition Awards Ceremony at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, Mr. Williams underscored that public vigilance...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (centre), speaks with Acting Chairman of Community-Based Rehabilitation Jamaica (CBRJ), Conrad Wright (right), and Project Manager, CBRJ, Sandrea Long White, at the Good Samaritan 5K Run Walk media launch held recently at the CBRJ

4 weeks ago CommunityLabourSocial Security

Good Samaritans 5K Run/Walk to Aid Children with Special Needs

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. is appealing to members of the public to support the Good Samaritan 5K Run/Walk, geared at raising funds to procure a bus to support children with special needs. The bus, valued at over $6 million, will be used to transport Community-Based Rehabilitation Jamaica (CBRJ) staff as they visit various communities...