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KINGSTON — The Ministry of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government will be conducting audits on a number of other fire stations across the island, which have deteriorated over time.   “There are a number of them that are not in the best of shape.  We are aware that a number of them are in deplorable conditions. A few have...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) is intensifying efforts to improve the lives of youths with disabilities, through a $49 million Technical Co-operation Project, funded by a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Speaking with JIS News prior to the beginning of a workshop on Behaviour Modification and Prevention of Childhood Disabilities, Project Coordinator, Ian...

MONTEGO BAY — Anglican Dean for Westmoreland and President of its Lay Magistrates’ Association, the Rev Canon Hartley Perrin, was recently honoured for outstanding service to the parish by the Westmoreland Heritage Week Committee, and accorded the title of ‘Local Hero’ in the field of religion. He was among seven ‘local heroes and heroines’ who have made outstanding contributions to...

KINGSTON — Promoting a culture of saving among Jamaicans has been a major focus of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), with special emphasis on the benefits than can be derived by contributors in later years.    Investing as little as $50 weekly can guarantee a secure future for unemployed persons, while employed persons can reap rewarding benefits from a 2.5...

KINGSTON — An agreement was reached between the Ports Management and Security Limited and the Port Supervisors Union (PSU) Wednesday (October 19), for the resumption of normality at Port Bustamante beginning Thursday, October 20, 2011. The decision was reached at a meeting at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Kingston. Under the terms of agreement, normality will be...

World Bank representative, Giorgio Valentini, has praised the Government for making "great strides" in streamlining and improving Jamaica’s social safety net and social protection programmes. Speaking at a dissemination forum for the "Diagnostic Study: Review of the Social Safety Net Provisions and Capacity", at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston Tuesday (October 4), Mr. Valentini said the World Bank was privileged...

KINGSTON — As the economy continues to fight off the effects of the global crisis, senior citizens find it more difficult to support their basic needs, including acquiring skill, accessing proper health care, becoming socially involved and seeking counselling, which usually result in them becoming victims of their loneliness.  However, the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) has remained steadfast...

KINGSTON — Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, says the Ministry is close to implementing the flexi-work week, which will provide better employment opportunities. He said that he is hastening to have the flexi work week implemented, because it is expected to increases employment. “Where a worker can do a 40-hour work week in three and a...

KINGSTON — Occupational Health and Safety legislation, to protect the welfare of Jamaican employees in the workplace, is expected to come on stream shortly, says Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles. "It will carry heavy sanctions for both workers and management who refuse to abide by the rules and standards laid out in these laws,” he said,...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has placed 11,147 Jamaican workers in overseas jobs since the start of the year. Providing a breakdown of the figures, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles, said that 3,500 persons were placed in the US farm work programme; 1,024 in the US hospitality work programme; 6,380 in the Canadian farm work programme;...

KINGSTON — Director General in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Faith Innerarity, has informed that the selection process for prospective Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) beneficiaries is currently being reviewed, to ensure that the neediest in the society are assisted. “PATH is continuously being reviewed, the programme is being re-evaluated. For persons who have applied...

KINGSTON — Faced with the reality that Jamaica's ageing population, with some 280,000 Jamaicans now 60 years and over, the Government is intensifying efforts to ensure their active participation in society, as they search for opportunities to be more resourceful in a dynamic and changing world.   This message from Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, was...