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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...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has issued a plea for Jamaican employers to support its Special Youth Employment and Training (SYEAT) Project, despite the economic challenges. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank Session Tuesday (July 22) at the agency's headquarters, Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston, Administrator for the SYEAT Project, Karen Courtney, said that the participants are eager and...

A Centre of Excellence for Health Workforce Planning is to be opened in Jamaica by February 2010, Health Minister, the Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has announced. The centre, he said, forms part of efforts to modernise Jamaica's public health sector, by improving the human, physical, and technological infrastructures. Speaking during the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Wednesday (July 15),...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, says that his Ministry will be strengthening its conciliation machinery to reduce the number of labour disputes referred to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) for settlement. Speaking at a Labour Advisory Committee (LAC) meeting Wednesday (July 15), at his Ministry's offices on North Street in Kingston, Mr. Charles said that the...

Government expenditure to deliver emergency relief to individuals who suffered dislocation caused by disasters during the 2008/09 fiscal year, amounted to some $30.5 million, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has reported. Addressing the inaugural staging of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica's (AMCHAM) Health, Safety, Security and Environment Conference, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston...

Verona O'Connor has devoted her life to improving the condition of residents of the parish of St. Thomas. As a community volunteer and parish organiser for the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC), until her retirement in 2007, the 62-year old willingly imparted her skills through workshops in culinary techniques, art and craft, floral arrangement and other life skills to...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has responded to Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding's charge to the public sector to reduce energy usage, with the launch of its conservation programme, 'Conservation is a Plus. Turn it off'. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles, says the Government must find ways to save money, if public sector jobs are to be...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be targeting delinquent employers as it works to collect outstanding contributions owed to the National Insurance Fund (NIF). "If necessary, legal proceedings will be instituted against delinquent employers to recover what is due to the fund. A revision of the fines and penalties will also be recommended to Cabinet," said State Minister,...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has said that the Ministry has embarked on several programmes to retool and re-skill persons finding it hard to secure jobs. Speaking at an information fair put on by the Events Management Group of the University of the West Indies' Open Campus on July 3 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in...

The Mona Baptist Church, in Kingston, is making its contribution to national development, not only by being good Samaritans, but by empowering those whose lives are touched, so that they will be able to help themselves in the long term. 'Healing and Empowerment with Love and Prayer', is the mantra that drives the Church's Help Ministry, which is serving the...

State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, has warned that stringent action will be taken against employers who fail to turnover National Insurance Scheme (NIS) deductions. The warning comes amidst discussions about the viability of the scheme, which facilitates pension payments to retired contributors. Mr. Gallimore was speaking at a national stakeholders forum at...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is advising members of the public that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is a viable and sustainable social security programme, capable of delivering meaningful benefits to contributors on their retirement. In recent years, there has been a shortfall between payout in NIS benefits and collection from contributions. This is due primarily to the...