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Jamaicans were on Wednesday (March 17), reminded of their basic rights as consumers, during the staging of a Consumer Expo in observance of World Consumer Rights Day at the Carib Cinema's car park, Cross Roads, Kingston. The expo was part of a week of activities planned to recognise World Consumer Rights Day, which was observed on March 15 by the...

The Minimum Wage Advisory Commission (MWAC) will have its final regional consultation on the National Minimum Wage and the Minimum Wage for Security Guards, at the Manchester Club, Mandeville on Thursday (March 18). The consultation starts at 1 p.m. and will end at about 6 p.m. This is the fifth and final in the current series of islandwide consultations being...

The National Insurance Fund (NIF) will earn $1.2 billion below the projected $4 billion in interest from Government bonds for 2010/11, but Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon Pearnel Charles, says this will not affect its ability to meet its commitments. The reduction in income is primarily due to the Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX) programme, but Mr. Charles said...

Safety practices in the building and construction industry will come under increased scrutiny as the Government moves to ensure the protection of employees on work sites. According to Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, safety is "serious business" and the Ministry will be ensuring that measures relating to best practices are being carried out. "We are not...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be holding a regional consultation on the National Minimum Wage and the Minimum Wage for Security Guards on Wednesday (March 10) at the Irish Rover Restaurant and Pub, Drax Hall, St. Ann's Bay, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is the second in a series of islandwide consultations being hosted by...

For several decades, the Overseas Employment Programme has been like a silver lining for many Jamaicans, particularly farm workers, providing them the opportunity to improve their lives. The programme has also been a significant contributor to the Jamaican economy, as a result of the frequent inflow of foreign exchange, being sent home by workers to their loved ones. This year,...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is in the process of undertaking review to address safety in the workplace through the proposed Occupational Health and Safety Act. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles, said that the bill will be brought to Parliament after the relevant procedural steps have been taken. He was speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday (March...

Over 400 young people in rural and urban Jamaica are to benefit from a two-year US$1.25 million poverty reduction programme. A project of the Government of Jamaica and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Youth Employment Project is being made possible by a grant from USAID, and will be implemented by the Scientific Research Council (SRC). The project, which...

The Government of Jamaica and the World Bank have signed a US$15 million (J$1.34 billion) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), for the establishment of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) project in the rural communities. The agreement was also signed by the World Bank, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), the Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Product and Development Company (TPDCo),...

As the country goes through a period of adjustment, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is seeking to ensure that no Jamaican is left behind by helping persons to find employment and start their own businesses, and widening the social safety net. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles says that the recently signed agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)...

A World Bank representative has proposed that English-speaking Caribbean countries examine their policy responses to migration of health workers, with a view to having some of the countries to which they emigrate share the cost of educating them. The proposal was made by World Bank Sector Leader for Human Development and lead author of the World Bank's latest report, 'The...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has advised that a National Minimum Wage consultation scheduled for the Manchester Club, Mandeville, Tuesday (March 2), has been rescheduled to Thursday (March 4) at the same venue starting at 2:00 p.m. The 2010 consultations by the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission are to garner the views of workers, including industrial security guards, and...