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KINGSTON — Premium rates are due to persons who work on December 26, 27, 2011 and January 2, 2012, but Sunday, December 25 and Sunday, January 1 will not be treated as public holidays for the payment of services rendered, but as a normal Sunday workday. In keeping with the provisions of the Holiday (Public General) Act, which states that...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in his role as Minister of Defence, explained that the government accepted an offer from the United States government for General Surveillance and Imagery Assistance and Communications to support local security operations in May 2010. The Prime Minister was addressing journalists at a press conference at Jamaica House. Also participating in the conference were Minister of...

KINGSTON — Wynter's Pen resident Steven Allen is a proud and happy young man, who is looking ahead to a bright future. Once “just sitting at home” with little job prospects, he is today an entrepreneur, who operates a thriving barber shop in his Spanish Town-based community. Steven is crediting his new lease on life to the skills training he...

University of the West Indies (UWI) Professor, Anthony Clayton, says that Jamaica must increase investment in technology and highly skilled areas to ensure the employability of future generations. He noted that fast-paced advancements in science and technology will make some jobs and professions obsolete. “To a very considerable extent, our future depends on our ability to generate the skills that...

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...