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

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...

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

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

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

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

UNICEF Partners With JCPD to Enhance Support for Persons With Disabilities

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.

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...

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).

3 months 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.

3 months 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.

3 months 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.

4 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.

4 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...