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Minster of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (centre), responds to a question during the meeting of the Standing Finance Committee at Gordon House on Friday (March 6). He is flanked by Minister of State, Donovan Williams and Acting Permanent Secretary, Dione Jennings.

$5.2 Billion in Grants Disbursed Under ROOFS

The Government has disbursed $5,222,325,000 in grants under the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme to assists families affected by hurricane Melissa. This was disclosed by Minster of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. during...

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

Persons with Disabilities Urged to Register on JCPD’S ‘I Am Able’ Platform

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, delivers the keynote address during the official launch of Chester Creek housing development at Westchester Drive in Portmore, St. Catherine, on Tuesday (March 3).

Prime Minister Orders Audit Teams to Safeguard ROOFS Programme from Welfare Fraud

Executive Director of the Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD), Kimberly Sherlock Marriot-Blake (second left), converses with (from left) Director, Centre for Disability Studies, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Senator Professor Floyd Morris; Campus Librarian, Main Library, UWI, Jessica Lewis-Marshall; and National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) Board Chair, Joy Douglas, during Monday’s (March 2) launch of the Jamaican Sign Language (JSL) training programme for the public library system. The event took place at the UWI. Spearheaded by the Jamaica Libraries and Information Network (JAMLIN), the initiative forms part of a phased effort to strengthen accessibility across public libraries and promote greater inclusion for the Deaf community.

Jamaican Sign Language Training Programme for Public Libraries Launched

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second right), presents a cheque to Hanover resident, Ena Campbell (second left), who lost her home during the passage of Hurricane Melissa last year. The occasion was the Hanover leg of the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) initiative handover ceremony, held at the Hanover Parish Church Hall in Lucea on Wednesday (February 25). Also participating are (from left), State Minister in the Labour Ministry, Hon. Donovan Williams, and Member of Parliament for Hanover Eastern, Andrea Purkiss.

$334M Being Disbursed to Hanover Households Under ‘ROOFS’ Hurricane Recovery Programme

Executive Director of the Jamaican Association on Intellectual Disabilities (JAID), Marilyn McKoy, speaking at a JIS Think Tank on February 25.

3 months ago LabourSocial Security

JAID Celebrates 70 Years of Advocacy

The Jamaican Association on Intellectual Disabilities (JAID) will be celebrating 70 years of advocacy for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families in 2026. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Wednesday (February 25), Executive Director of JAID, Marilyn McKoy, said the association’s journey reflects decades of resilience, pioneering work, and a steadfast commitment to inclusion. Mrs. McKoy further noted...

Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Christine Hendricks.

3 months ago LabourSocial Security

Jamaica Making Strides in Disability Inclusion

Jamaica has made notable strides in advancing disability inclusion, steadily building a stronger culture of belonging for vulnerable group of persons. Over the past four years, the country has implemented key aspects of the Disabilities Act, alongside public education and sensitisation initiatives, to promote equal access, opportunities, and rights for persons with disabilities. Addressing a recent Think Tank, Executive Director...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.

3 months ago DevelopmentLabourSocial SecurityVision 2030Youth

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 transparent, responsible business practices consistent with international labour standards. The Minister was responding to the outcomes of the Sixth Global...

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.

3 months ago LabourSocial SecurityYouth

Jamaica Reaffirms Commitment to Ending Child Labour

A delegation from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security represented Jamaica at the Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, held from February 11 to 13 in Marrakesh, Morocco. The conference brought together global leaders, policymakers, and advocates to address the urgent challenge of child labour, which continues to affect an estimated 138 million children worldwide. Jamaica’s...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., delivers the keynote address at the National Policy-Level Workshop on

3 months ago LabourSocial Security

Minister Charles Jr. Calls for Multi-Sector Collaboration

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., is urging greater collaboration across all sectors to build Jamaica’s economic resilience through increased and sustained productivity. He was speaking at the National Policy-Level Workshop on ‘Stronger and Greener Productive Capacities for a Just Transition in Jamaica’ on Wednesday (February 11), held at the S Hotel in New Kingston. The...

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.

3 months ago LabourSocial Security

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

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in partnership with Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA), launched a scholarship programme to support the children of current farm workers participating in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) in Ontario, Canada. The grant, valued at Can$10,000, is aimed at offsetting educational and school-related expenses for 10 children or wards of SAWP...

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).

3 months ago LabourSocial Security

Labour Minister Highlights Role of HR Professionals in National Development

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., has underscored the importance of human resource (HR) professionals in building a strong labour force to drive and sustain Jamaica’s national development. “If we're going to have sustainable national development, HR is important, because you can't have sustained national development without having a strong labour force,” he said. The Minister...