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The 9th biennial scientific conference of the Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapist (ACOT) was officially opened today (Nov. 5) at the Hilton Kingston hotel. The three-day conference is being held under the theme: 'It all comes together here: Caribbean occupational therapists striving for excellence'. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, in his remarks, said that the Ministry...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has said that the industrial relations climate must be one that fosters co-operation between workers and managers for the country's development. "We must look at industrial relations with a new vision of partnership and co-operation," he said, noting that the "lock out of workers by management, and workers walking of the...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, the Hon. Pearnel Charles, is to meet with representatives of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) and the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, next week, following the breakdown of wage talks on Thursday (October 29). Mr. Charles told JIS News last night that he would be meeting with the parties to avoid...

With a report on Jamaica's Productivity levels over the past four decades showing a recurrent trend of low productivity, State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, has said that there needs to be improvement in productivity and efficiency within the public and private sectors. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank session yesterday (Oct. 28),...

The employment forecast for Jamaica shows opportunities in education, health care and social assistance, and professional and business services, including Information Communication Technology (ICT). Hospitality, financial, scientific and technical services, construction, and creative and cultural industries, also show strong prospects. Manager of the Human Development Unit at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Mr. Steven Kerr, made the revelation as...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has assured members of the Practical Nurses Association of Jamaica that the Government is exploring making financing available to them to pursue the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) programme. The programme is currently being offered at Knox Community College, Brown's Town Community College and the Nuttall Hospital, in collaboration with the Ministry...

Attorney-at-law, Noman Wright Q.C. has been appointed as the new chairman of the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT). The announcement was made by Minister of Labour and Social Security, the Hon. Pearnel Charles, in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (October 6), as he piloted a Bill amending the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act (LRIDA) which will, finally, allow non-unionised...

Matters relating to ageing and pensions were discussed at the first ever Regional Pensions Workshop, which was held at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James, from October 8 to 9. Addressing participants at the official opening, Executive Director of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Mr. Rohan Barnett, argued that with CARICOM adopting the Caribbean Regional Charter on...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has officially launched the 'We Need to Know' public education campaign, which encourages compliance among the beneficiaries of the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH). The campaign seeks to ensure that parents or guardians of PATH beneficiaries who have started primary school, junior high, high school, or who have changed schools,...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, wants more programmes that will incorporate senior citizens in the "productive process", as well as engage them in pivotal roles in community building. In a brief address, delivered by Director of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Denzil Thorpe, at a National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC)...

Representatives of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) and the Government signed an agreement Tuesday (September 29) at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Kingston, for the payment of salary arrears amounting to $8 billion. The parties agreed that the payments will be made as follows: Year 1 (2010-2011) - $4 billion, payable in two equal installments in May and...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, says that in three weeks, he will be announcing how many jobs his Ministry has matched with persons looking for employment. "You can't have jobs if you don't have investments. Anywhere the jobs are, we are going after them," said the Minister to the audience at the Prime Minister's Town Hall...