Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says the Ministry has robust internal mechanisms to detect and correct any weaknesses that may exist in its operations. Mr. Charles advises that these mechanisms are “currently being engaged to make sure that if there is an incident, we could identify it [and] if there are weaknesses, we can identify...

Jamaica must look to become globally competitive in the area of productivity, says Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. “The reality is the market that we are in now is much more competitive. When we talk about global competitiveness it means you must be more productive because if you are going to compete in a global...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is reporting that as at this month (June), National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pensioners started receiving their increases. Addressing today’s (June 21) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said the pension rate increases range from 23 to 76 per cent under the National Insurance Scheme. “We are very...

The upcoming Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) Productivity Forum promises to be informative and transformative, says Chief Technical Director of the entity, Tamar Nelson. “This forum will be used to share any insight, research, advancement and data on productivity,” she told JIS News. Under the theme ‘Paving Productivity Pathways to a Prosperous Nation’, the event will take place on World Productivity...

Twenty grade-10 students, who are pursuing agriculture studies at secondary level institutions in St. Catherine, have received a donation of $600,000 from Jamaican workers at Gebbers Farms in Washington in the United States (US). The beneficiary schools are Glengoffe High, Guys Hill High, Charlemont High, Ewarton High, McGrath High, Dinthill Technical High, Enid Bennett High, Tacius Golding High, Old Harbour...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. is calling on Jamaicans to join the fight against child labour, noting that eradicating the scourge must be the responsibility of all. In his message for World Day Against Child Labour, which is being observed on Monday (June 12), under the theme: ‘Social Justice For All: End Child Labour’, the...

Chairman of the Recovery Planning Committee, National Disaster Risk Management Council, Dr. Wayne Henry, says a feasibility study has been completed on unemployment insurance in Jamaica. Unemployment insurance protects employed persons against the risk of job loss, and it facilitates access to partial income during periods of unemployment. Dr. Henry, who is also Director General of the Planning Institute of...