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The House of Representatives has approved amendments to the National Insurance Act, resulting in increased benefits to contributors. In piloting the Bill in the House on December 11, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, said that the proposed changes are based on a recent actuarial review of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). “The amendments will ensure the...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says the proposal to introduce an unemployment insurance scheme in Jamaica is part of a larger thrust to reform the labour market. The Minister was addressing the opening of a two-day Labour Market Forum to discuss: ‘Reforming Jamaica’s Labour Market: Social Protection through Unemployment Insurance’, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, on...

The Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) hounoured its six founding members on Wednesday (December 5), at an awards ceremony held at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s North Street office in Kingston. They are:  Dr. Marigold Thorburn, Family Nurse Practitioner, Joyce Brown, Daisy Mitchell, Matilda Brown, Dorothy Fuller, and Janet Ricketts. Director of the Centre for Disabilities Studies at the...

The Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) will be hosting an awards ceremony in honour of its founders, at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, 1F North Street,  in Kingston, on December 5, starting at 2:30 p.m. Director of the ESP, Antonica Gunter-Gayle, said that the purpose of the ceremony is to highlight the work of Dr. Marigold Thorburn, and Family...

An Unemployment Insurance Scheme  for Jamaica will  be explored at the annual Labour Market Reform forum, to be held  at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, on December 6. This was disclosed by Labour Market Analyst in the Human and Community Development Unit of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Deidra Coy, at a JIS ‘Think Tank’, on December...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has boosted its capacity to deliver social services to vulnerable Jamaicans through the acquisition of 13 Toyota Hilux Pick-up Trucks, valued at $38.5 million. The vehicles, which were handed over to portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier on Wednesday (November 28) at his 1F North Street office, will enhance service delivery to 400,000 beneficiaries...

Several infrastructural projects are in progress across the island, with many being undertaken through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). These projects include, but are not limited to: road repairs; bushing of roads; bridge repairs; and the cleaning and maintenance of drains and gullies. The National Works Agency (NWA) has been instrumental in overseeing the projects and has employed numerous...

A new parish office of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is to be constructed in St. Ann’s Bay, St. Ann, at a cost of some $270 million. This was announced by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, when he toured the office and addressed the staff on November 21. “We have advertised for architectural services...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that 18,000 new persons were employed as at July this year, to bring the total number (of persons employed) to 1,094,700, an increase of 11,100 persons, relative to the similar period last year.  Speaking at the PIOJ’s quarterly press briefing at the Institute’s New Kingston offices on November  20, Director General, Dr....

The Government of Jamaica has disbursed some $21 million in economic empowerment grants to 62 persons with disabilities between November 2008 and October 2012. Additionally, more than $12 million in assistive aids were paid out to some 144 persons from April 2008 to October 2012. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, outlined the figures at an economic...

Executive Director, Social Development Commission (SDC), Dr. Dwayne Vernon, has cited the need for a partnership involving “an accountable and transparent political mechanism and empowered and responsible civil society stakeholders”, in order for Jamaica to achieve good and effective governance. Speaking at the second SDC Parish/Town Hall Meeting, in May Pen, Clarendon, recently, Dr. Vernon noted that in a number...

Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Dr. Dwayne Vernon, says the agency is seeking to position itself to further assist in bolstering self-help activities in communities islandwide. Speaking at the second SDC Parish/Town Hall meeting, in May Pen, Clarendon, last week,  Dr. Vernon pointed out that the Commission’s  “core outputs” are focused on fostering strong community governance mechanisms,...