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The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is moving to implement a national plan of action to address child labour in Jamaica. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that 16,000 Jamaican children below the age of 18 are involved in child labour, with 7,000 said to be involved in the "worst forms of labour", which includes the sex trade and...

The Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS) is imploring more Jamaicans to volunteer their time in activities to uplift the nation, as it seeks to do its part to give Jamaica a 'Fresh Start'. The National Transformation Programme (NTP), under the Fresh Start Jamaica programme, is trumpeting volunteerism as one of the ways to build national pride and help to...

More than 30 persons with disabilities are set to benefit from an adult education programme being offered by the Combined Disabilities Association (CDA), with funding from the Jamaica National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Under the programme, dubbed: 'Secondary Education for Adults with Disabilities,' participants will be prepared to sit three Caribbean Examinations Council...

State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, is calling on Jamaicans to help to improve the quality of life of disabled persons in the country. Minister Gallimore was speaking at the Mustard Seed Communities' Jacob's Ladder home in Haddon, St. Ann yesterday (Aug. 31) where a 20,000- gallon water tank was installed to store...

A pilot "Steps to Work Programme" Summer Camp was officially launched by Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, on Monday (August 17). About 100 children, from households in the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) in that area, are participating in the camp, being held on the grounds of the...

Empowering persons with disabilities was the main objective of an 'Economic Empowerment Seminar', held today (August 18), by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in collaboration with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities. Conducted at the Ministry, in Kingston, the seminar focussed on disabled persons operating small businesses, with grants allocated by the Government. These seminars have been...

The International Labour Organisation (ILO), has recommended that the Government work with the Inter-American Research and Documentation Centre on Vocational Training (CINTERFOR) in embarking on training programmes to re-train Jamaica's workforce. This suggestion was made by Director of the ILO's Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean, Dr. Ana Teresa Romero, who proposed that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security collaborate...

Senior citizens from the Bluefields area of Westmoreland have been presented with gift packages by the Bluefields People's Community Association (BPCA), and given free specialised health care by staff and students of Bryan's Nursing Academy in the parish, over the past few weeks. The elderly persons were visited by members of the Association, particularly the 'shut-in' members of the community,...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has summoned an emergency meeting for Tuesday morning (August 11) at the Ministry in Kingston, to discuss the current demonstration by registered nurses at public health facilities. The Ministry of Labour confirmed today that Mr. Charles has summoned the parties - the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) and the Ministry of...

Jamaicans in the Diaspora are being encouraged to become more actively engaged in transforming the country. "If you believe in Jamaica, give yourself to the process of national building in Jamaica and help the nation pull through to her capability, as belief demands action," urged Pastor of the Fellowship Tabernacle in Kingston, Rev. Dr. Merrick 'Al' Miller. He was addressing...

Efforts to safeguard the welfare of indigents, and other persons in need of public assistance, have been boosted by the Government's implementation of the Social Protection Project. The initiative aims at enhancing Jamaica's social protection framework, by expanding the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH). Project Director for PATH, Dunstan Bryan, tells JIS News that since its introduction...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security plans to extend its Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) to western Jamaica to reach more children with mental and physical disabilities. "This early stimulation programme is important and is vital to their survival and we are thinking of setting up another (facility) in western Jamaica for those parents, who can't get into Kingston with...