Latest

Entities Operating in Jamaica Urged to Ensure Supply Chains Are Free from Child Labour

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., has issued a call to the private sector and corporations operating in Jamaica to ensure that their supply chains are free from child labour. He also urged the adoption of...

Members the Jamaican delegation along with other delegates from Latin American and the Caribbean, at the Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour held from February 11 to 13, in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Jamaica Reaffirms Commitment to Ending Child Labour

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., delivers the keynote address at the National Policy-Level Workshop on 'Stronger and Greener Productive Capacities for a Just Transition in Jamaica' on Wednesday (February 11), held at S Hotel in New Kingston. The workshop, held in collaboration with Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), aims to utilise evidence-based data to examine Jamaica’s opportunities to strengthen productivity, resilience, and sustainable growth.

Minister Charles Jr. Calls for Multi-Sector Collaboration

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (seated left), looks on as Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) Communications Advisor, Benjamin Murray (seated centre) signs a symbolic cheque for the OFVGA Scholarship Programme, at the launch event on Thursday (February 5) at the Ministry’s North Street offices. Also looking on are (standing, left) Acting Permanent Secretary, Dione Jennings; Public Relations Manager in the Ministry, Justine Bailey; and Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Donovan Williams. The grant, valued at Can$10,000, is aimed at offsetting educational and school-related expenses for 10 children or wards of Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) workers.

Jamaica and Canada Celebrate 60-Year SAWP Partnership with Scholarship Programme

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), receives a token from President of the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ), Dr. Cassida Jones Johnson, at the opening ceremony of the HRMAJ’s 45th Annual Conference, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston on Wednesday (February 4).

Labour Minister Highlights Role of HR Professionals in National Development

Minister of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second right); Acting Permanent Secretary in the MLSS, Dione Jennings (right); President of the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ), Dr. Cassida Jones Johnson (second left) and HRMAJ Vice President, Michael McAnuff-Jones, sign the Statement of Intent document to formalise a partnership between the Ministry and the Association. The signing took place during the opening ceremony of the Association’s 45th Annual Conference, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston on Wednesday (February 4).

1 month ago LabourSocial Security

Labour Ministry Formalises Working Partnership With HRMAJ

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) has signed a Statement of Intent with the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ), formalising a collaborative working partnership with the association. The agreement was signed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., Acting Permanent Secretary in the MLSS, Dione Jennings, and the leadership of the association, during the opening ceremony...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), presents a grant cheque to Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) Programme beneficiary, Chevanese Myrie, during a handover ceremony at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security office in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, on January 30. He is joined by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (second right); and Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.

1 month ago LabourSocial Security

Gov’t Commences ‘ROOFS’ Grant Disbursements for Hurricane Melissa Recovery

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced the commencement of the disbursement of financial assistance to persons affected by Hurricane Melissa, under the Government’s Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) Programme. Speaking during a handover ceremony at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security office in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, on January 30, Dr. Holness...

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Ambassador, the Hon. Audrey Marks, addresses the ceremony for the official launch of the implementation of the flexible work arrangement in the public sector at Jamaica House, St. Andrew, on January 29.

1 month ago Finance & Public ServiceInnovationLabourOffice of the Prime MinisterSocial Security

Government Launches Public Sector Flexible Work Arrangement

The Government has officially launched the implementation of flexible work arrangements within the public sector, starting on a phased basis on February 2, 2026, with staggered working hours. The staggered working hours include 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Minister...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second right), listens as Social Worker, Jada Brown (right), explains how tablet computers are utilised in fieldwork. Also listening (from left) are Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Service Fund (USF), Charlton McFarlane, and Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dione Jennings. The occasion was the handover ceremony for 200 tablets by the USF, held on Tuesday (January 27), at the Ministry’s North Street office in Kingston. The donation, representing the first tranche of 1,000 tablets valued over $79 million, will support the Ministry in conducting damage assessments on houses destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

2 months ago LabourSocial Security

Labour Ministry Receives 200 Tablets from USF to Aid Post-Hurricane Melissa Damage Assessments

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has received 200 tablet computers from the Universal Service Fund (USF) to support the Ministry in conducting damage assessments on houses that were destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The donation represents the first tranche of 1,000 tablets, valued over $79 million, to be handed over to the Ministry. The devices, which...

Executive Director, Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Dr. Christine Hendricks.

2 months ago LabourSocial Security

JCPD Responding to Needs of Persons with Disabilities

The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting members of the disabled community affected by Hurricane Melissa. Since the passage of the storm, the Council has been working closely with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) to identify, assess, and respond to the needs of individuals who have been impacted. Executive Director...

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson (centre), discusses Jamaica’s overseas employment programmes with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Colette Roberts Risden (second left), who has oversight responsibility for overseas employment programmes in the United States and Canada, during a meeting at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C. Also participating are Liaison Officers in the Ministry, Sheldon Brown, and Karlene Brown (right), and Minister Counsellor for Trade and Economic Affairs at the Embassy, Aliecia Taylor.

2 months ago Foreign AffairsLabour

Gov’t of Jamaica Pursuing Expansion of Overseas Employment Programmes In The United States

The Government of Jamaica is pressing ahead with efforts to expand the H-2A and H-2B United States (U.S.) work visa programmes. Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson, met with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Colette Roberts Risden, to review the current state and explore the future expansion of...

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon (centre), observes as Managing Director of the HEART/NSTA Trust, Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, extends greetings to Chairman of the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB), Damion McLean, during the handover ceremony for HEART’s Region I National Development Project, held at the JSB in Kingston on January 15.

2 months ago InformationLabourSocial Security

Gov’t Reaffirms Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognised as full citizens, with equal rights to access, participation and opportunity. “You can see our commitment in how we have been approaching post-Hurricane Melissa recovery,” she said during the official handover ceremony for...