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National Senior Spelling Bee Champion, Beverly Been of St. Andrew, proudly displays her trophy following the conclusion of the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) Senior Citizens’ Month 2025 finals, held on Wednesday (September 17), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
National Senior Spelling Bee Champion, Beverly Been of St. Andrew, proudly displays her trophy following the conclusion of the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) Senior Citizens’ Month 2025 finals, held on Wednesday (September 17), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Beverly Been Crowned 2025 National Senior Spelling Bee Champion

Beverly Been of St. Andrew has been crowned the 2025 National Senior Spelling Bee champion. She topped the field of contestants during the competition’s staging on Wednesday (September 17) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, walking away with...
Social Policy Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jamaica, André Miller
Social Policy Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jamaica, André Miller

New Mobile App Expands Access to Gov’t Services for Persons with Disabilities
State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, delivers the keynote address during the launch of Senior Citizens Month on Friday (August 29), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. The 2025 observance is being celebrated under the theme ‘Respect, Protect, Empower and Connect’.
State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, delivers the keynote address during the launch of Senior Citizens Month on Friday (August 29), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. The 2025 observance is being celebrated under the theme ‘Respect, Protect, Empower and Connect’.

Special Recognition of Senior Citizens During September
Director of Social Security in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Suzette Morris, speaks with JIS News at the first Solidarity Live Community Engagement session at the Port Maria Anglican Church Hall in St. Mary, on August 21.
Director of Social Security in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Suzette Morris, speaks with JIS News at the first Solidarity Live Community Engagement session at the Port Maria Anglican Church Hall in St. Mary, on August 21.

Solidarity Programme Targets Thousands of Jamaicans for Social Protection
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses a recent productivity forum at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew. The event, hosted by the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC), marked the official launch of three tailored productivity toolkits designed to empower students, businesses, and government services to assess and improve productivity in a measurable and user-friendly way.
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses a recent productivity forum at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew. The event, hosted by the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC), marked the official launch of three tailored productivity toolkits designed to empower students, businesses, and government services to assess and improve productivity in a measurable and user-friendly way.

Labour Minister Says Bridging Productivity Gap is Key to Safeguarding Jamaica’s Future

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Work under way at a construction site.
LabourSocial Security

1,232 Jobseekers Placed Through Labour Ministry’s Electronic Labour Exchange in 2024

A total of 1,232 jobseekers were placed in local employment through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Electronic Labour Exchange (ELE) in 2024. The ELE operates a job-matching system that links prospective employers with employees through a web-based medium. According to the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ), 2024, male placements increased by 16.3 per cent to 400, while...
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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.
LabourSocial Security

Disbursement Soon Under Solidarity Programme

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has been undertaking a pilot of the digital platform Gov Payout, which will be used to facilitate payments under the $1-billion Solidarity Programme. “We have been doing the pilot for about three to four weeks. We've been able to amend and fix and revise and go through a lot of the testing where...
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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr (right), engages with residents of Cheshire Village, during a visit to the community for disabled persons in St. Andrew last December to hand over care packages. Looking on is State Minister, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn.
Health & WellnessLabourSocial Security

Reduction in Discrimination Complaints to JCPD

A total of 22 complaints of discrimination were received and processed by the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) in 2024, compared to 30 in the previous year, reflecting a reduction of 26.67 per cent. Of the reports received, five were investigated and two were referred to the Disabilities Rights Tribunal. The information is contained in the Economic and...
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LabourSocial Security

13.3 Per Cent Increase in Work Permit Applications Last Year

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security received 5,651 work permit applications in 2024, an increase of 13.3 per cent compared with 2023. Of the applications received, 3,080 were for renewal and 2,571 were for new permits. The information is contained in the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ), 2024, an annual publication of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ)....
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.
LabourSocial Security

Ministry Launches App to Assist Persons with Disabilities

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says the launch of Jamaica’s revolutionary ‘I AM ABLE’ mobile application is a “game changer” for persons with disabilities across the island. Speaking at the official unveiling at Turtle River Park in Ocho Rios on July 29, the Minister said that the new digital platform represents a significant step forward...
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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (seventh right), joins award recipients at the Industrial Disputes Tribunal’s (IDT) 50th Anniversary Luncheon and Awards Ceremony held on July 11 at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in New Kingston. Also sharing the moment are Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dione Jennings (seventh left), and former Labour Minister, Pearnel Charles Sr. (eighth left).
LabourSocial Security

Gov’t Aligning Labour with Global Trends While Safeguarding Rights – Minister Charles Jr.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., has emphasised the Government’s commitment to aligning labour practices with global trends while safeguarding rights. The Minister was addressing the recent Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) 50th Anniversary Luncheon and Awards Ceremony at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in New Kingston, where he highlighted the need for strategic transformation to ensure...
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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., engages in conversation with (from left) Tamoya Thompson, Gabrielle Whittingham, Laurie Green and Janiella Wilson, at the Juici Patties Youth Leadership Workshop & Volunteerism Programme at The Verandah in Clarendon on Tuesday (July 8).
LabourSocial SecurityYouth

Students Urged to Uphold Discipline

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., has charged students to make discipline their hallmark as they pursue success in their academic and personal lives. He noted that while natural talent can be a helpful starting point for achieving success, consistent discipline is crucial for sustained achievement and reaching one's full potential. “If you cannot develop good...
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