Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Shahine Robinson, says Government is in the final stages of ratifying the Convention for Decent Work for Domestic Workers, 2011. “The matter of accession to C189 is the subject of a recent decision of Cabinet, and is an achievement of which this Ministry, and indeed this Administration, is very proud,” she said. The Minister...

With an increasing demand for jobs in Jamaica, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through its Electronic Labour Exchange (ELE) system has been matching prospective employees to jobs. Since its inception in 2002, more than 14,000 persons have registered with the system, including almost 900 employers. Labour Component Coordinator, ELE, Lyndon Ford, tells JIS News that the Ministry has...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is encouraging greater utilization of its services by the public to compare prices and report concerns arising. Research Officer, Elroy Galbraith, says the agency has several tools and channels for the timely provision of information to consumers. These, he said, include the ‘Price Enquiry Tool’ that enables persons to access and compare the prices for...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is urging parents to prioritise when purchasing textbooks for the new school year. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on August 24, Chief Executive Officer, Dolsie Allen, said parents should consult the schools to find out the recommended books for the first half of the school year before buying. “This will help you to budget...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that the country’s labour force increased by 53,100 persons to 1,353,500 as at April 2016. According to STATIN’s Labour Force Survey for that month, 1,168,600 persons secured employment, representing an increase of 40,100 over the corresponding period in 2015. Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, speaking at the...

Work on the new $83-million Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) multipurpose facility is to be completed in time for the upcoming academic year. The facility, which is being constructed on Hanover Street, in Kingston, is being built through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Integrated Social Protection and Labour Programme. Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Labour and Social...

Director of the Child Labour Unit in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Marva Pringle-Ximinnies, is urging Jamaicans to be vigilant in detecting and thus helping to reduce child labour. She said persons should be particularly vigilant in situations where they see a child who they suspect may not be attending school. “We have this cultural practice where we...