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The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting an increase in the number of Jamaican workers with professional or vocational certification last year. Programme Director for the PIOJ's Plan Development Unit, Richard Lumsden, said that figures from the 2012 Statistical Institute of Jamaica's (STATIN) Labour Force Survey, showed that 23.7 per cent of the labour force has such qualification. The...

Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression and Punishment) Act, to increase the penalties for breaches of that law. Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, explains that the law, which was enacted in 2007, had no specific provisions to deal with other offences related to trafficking, such as assault, carnal abuse, rape, child...

Professionals, who deal with cases of child labour, are now better equipped to address the issue with the launch of the Child Labour Handbook for Professionals. The Tackling Child Labour Through Education (TACKLE) Project, launched the handbook, during a training workshop, held at the Alhambra Inn in St. Andrew on Thursday, February 14,. The publication aims to enhance the knowledge...

Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says the country is currently experiencing an unprecedented degree of industrial stability. Minister Kellier said this is a result of the robust and mature industrial relations mechanism that now exists in Jamaica. Speaking at a press briefing held at the Ministry’s North Street offices in downtown Kingston on February 6, Mr. Kellier...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says the Ministry, in partnership with the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC), will be implementing a number of initiatives throughout the year to increase productivity levels. Among those initiatives, he said, is the enlisting of a Japanese productivity expert, Tatsuo Kuraishi, who will be working closely with the JPC over the next...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is to pressure delinquent employers in both the public and private sectors to pay over National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, said this is to protect the interest of the pensioners of the country and contributors to the National Insurance Fund. The Minister was speaking at a contract signing...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has intensified plans to establish a Driver Training Institute at the Brown’s Town Community College in St. Ann, to undertake the professional training of trailer drivers and transport mechanics. This initiative is expected to commence by September 2013, and has been boosted by the gift of a trailer/truck valued at CD$45,000.00 (approximately $4.5...

In a matter of months, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security will have its own building at 3 King Street, in Falmouth, Trelawny. A contract valued at some $64 .4 million was signed on January 31, for the renovation and expansion of the facility, which was acquired by the National Insurance Fund (NIF) in 2001. Minister of Labour and...

Minister without portfolio with responsibility for the Public Service, Hon. Horace Dalley says that the groundwork to reform the public sector pension scheme has already begun. Minister Dalley says the reform process is expected to yield a pension system that is more affordable for the Government, sustainable, and provides reasonably adequate retirement benefits. Minister Dalley was speaking on the topic:...

In an effort to improve the island’s Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) sector, the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has partnered with two entities to assist them with implementing standards and/or quality systems within their organisations. To this end, two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed on January 17, between the BSJ and the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA); and...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be undertaking a pre-selection exercise for the Canadian farm work programme in March. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, during a statement on Tuesday (January 15) in the House of Representatives. He informed that the exercise will see representatives of the Ministry going island-wide to pre-select suitable persons to...

An additional $1.5 billion will be paid out to beneficiaries under the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), with new increases in both contributions and benefits, for 2013. Acting Director of the NIS, Portia Magnus, said the benefit increases include old age, sugar worker, invalidity, widow/widower’s pension, and orphan and special child allowances. She explained that benefits for old age, invalidity, and...