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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has suggested that a road map be designed to guide Jamaica through the current economic and financial challenges, and to find new opportunities for growth and development. Mr. Charles was addressing the Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF) 2009 convention, held under the theme, "Succeeding in Turbulent Times; Partnership, Performance, Productivity," which was...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles, has pointed to the importance of partnership among government, employers, workers and their representatives, in ensuring the profitability of business and to build a more productive society. "Partnership is one of, if not the most essential element in the way forward. If Jamaica is to progress further, it requires actual commitment from...

Fifty Jamaicans are to be trained as Resident Care Attendants, to fill vacancies in Canada, under a training project to be delivered through the partnership of a Jamaican and Canadian college. The project will see the Brown's Town Community College, in St. Ann, training Resident Care Attendants, based on British Colombian school, Sprott-Shaw Community College's academic curriculum. The programme, which...

The National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) will be hosting a 'Self Help Health Care Workshop', on Wednesday, May 20, in recognition of Centenarians' Day. This workshop is aimed at educating caregivers on how to properly care for senior citizens and to identify and honour centenarians islandwide. In an interview with JIS News, Director of the NCSC, Beverly Hall Taylor,...

Minister of Labour and Social Security Hon. Pearnel Charles, met with 78 private recruitment agencies on Thursday (May 14), to inform them of recent amendments to the Regulations of the United States Departments of Labour and Homeland Security to guide the placement of overseas workers recruited privately. The US Department of Labour and Department of Homeland Security have published new...

Minister of Labour and Social Security Hon. Pearnel Charles has said that the Government is concerned about the industrial relations climate and will be putting measures in place to prevent any form of disruption. "We have soundings from our oversight committees that there could be possible disruptions from various areas in the economy and the country as a result of...

It began as a pilot project to provide an after-school facility for employees who wanted safe supervision for their children while they were working. But today, in gaily decorated settings on the ground floor, the day care centre at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, North Street in Kingston, has evolved into an exemplary model of a low-cost, early-childhood...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, wants Jamaican citizens to become more considerate of persons, especially children, with disabilities. "I urge every well-thinking Jamaican to recognise that disabilities can affect each and every one of us. We should all do our little part to create a society that makes persons with disabilities...

National Labour Day, which is being celebrated on Monday, May 25 this year, was officially launched today (May 1) on the lawns of Jamaica House under the theme, 'Ketch the Vibes: Volunteerism, Intervention, Beautification, Empowerment for Success'. There will be three national projects this year: Hospital Spruce Up at the St. Ann's Bay Hospital; installation of a multi-purpose court in...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, today (Thursday April 30) announced that effective Monday May 11, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will be increased by ten per cent. The increase will move the NMW from the current $3,700 to $4,070.00 per forty (40) hour week. Effective Monday June 1, industrial security guards will also see a 10...

When Rupert Douglas went to Canada as a farm worker for the first time in 1972, a lot of things were different. For one, his salary was 65 cents per hour and the Ontario farm on which he worked, H. W. Holdings Limited, only produced peaches. Thirty-seven years later, the Port Antonio native is still making the trip every year...

The average number of Jamaicans travelling to Canada under the Canadian Overseas Workers Programme has now reached eight thousand (8,000) annually and according to Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, remittances from the programme have far exceeded Can$52 million over the past five years. During bi-lateral talks at Jamaica House this morning (April 21) with Canadian Prime...