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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson (left), addresses the media after a tour of the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) multipurpose facility on Hanover Street, on Thursday (June 8). At right is Vice-President of Countries at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Alexandre Meira da Rosa.
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson (left), addresses the media after a tour of the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) multipurpose facility on Hanover Street, on Thursday (June 8). At right is Vice-President of Countries at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Alexandre Meira da Rosa.

More Access for Persons with Disabilities

The Government is seeking to increase access and coverage for persons with disabilities, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This was noted by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson, during a tour of the Early...
Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dionne Jennings, addresses a ceremony to launch Disaster Preparedness Month on June 1 at Jamaica House.
Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dionne Jennings, addresses a ceremony to launch Disaster Preparedness Month on June 1 at Jamaica House.

Govt Prepared for Hurricane Season
Minister of Education,Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses the Senate on April 28.
Minister of Education,Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses the Senate on April 28.

School Violence Trending Down
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson (2nd right), along with Senior Social Protection Officer at the Inter-American Development Bank, Donna Harris (left); and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Colette Roberts-Risden (2nd left); break ground for the expansion of the Stimulation-Plus Early Childhood Development Centre at Ostend Close in Rockfort, Kingston, on April 25. Looking on at right is Director of the Early Stimulation Programme, Antonica Gunter Gayle.
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson (2nd right), along with Senior Social Protection Officer at the Inter-American Development Bank, Donna Harris (left); and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Colette Roberts-Risden (2nd left); break ground for the expansion of the Stimulation-Plus Early Childhood Development Centre at Ostend Close in Rockfort, Kingston, on April 25. Looking on at right is Director of the Early Stimulation Programme, Antonica Gunter Gayle.

Multimedia Campaign on Disabilities Act to Begin May
Local Government and Community Development Minister and Member of Parliament for West Kingston, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (2nd right); and Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney (left), hand over a mosquito net to Tivoli Gardens resident, Tara Clarke (2nd left), who is holding her newborn. Sharing the moment is Director of the Environmental Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Everton Baker. Several residents of West Kingston were presented with mosquito nets and water container covers during a ceremony held on April 11 at Tivoli Gardens Community Centre in Kingston.
Local Government and Community Development Minister and Member of Parliament for West Kingston, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (2nd right); and Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney (left), hand over a mosquito net to Tivoli Gardens resident, Tara Clarke (2nd left), who is holding her newborn. Sharing the moment is Director of the Environmental Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Everton Baker. Several residents of West Kingston were presented with mosquito nets and water container covers during a ceremony held on April 11 at Tivoli Gardens Community Centre in Kingston.

West Kingston Residents Receive Mosquito Nets and Container Lids

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LabourSocial Security

Increased Allocation to PATH

Come June 1, the Government will increase its budgetary allocation to the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) by 30 per cent. This will benefit some 360,000 persons who are on the programme, says Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson. Making her contribution to the 2017/2018 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, on April...
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Accountant General, Carlene Murdock, speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank about the move to introduce biometrics to identify pensioners.
Social Security

AGD to Introduce Biometrics in Identifying Pensioners

Paper-based life certificates may soon become a thing of the past as the Accountant General’s Department (AGD) looks to implement biometrics as a means of identifying pensioners. Accountant General, Carlene Murdock, said the Department is actively working towards implementing this feature. “What this will mean … is that the old order of the life certificates as we know it will...
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Director of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Portia Magnus. (FILE)
Social Security

Domestic Workers Entitled to Eight Weeks’ Maternity Leave

Domestic workers can claim for maternity leave allowance for a maximum period of eight weeks. Director of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Portia Magnus, told JIS News in a recent interview that the provision, under the National Insurance Act of 1979, aims to ensure that these workers’ rights are protected. “This benefit is for persons employed as domestic workers, as...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, makes his contribution to the debate on the Pensions (Public Service) Act 2016 in the House of Representatives on March 28.
Prime MinisterSocial Security

Gov’t to Introduce Voluntary Retirement Programme

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says a new programme will be introduced in the 2017/18 financial year for persons opting for early retirement. “I think I should stress that this is a voluntary programme. We’re going to encourage persons to take it. It is not a compulsory programme,” he said, noting that the move represents an overall strategy...
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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry, addresses the Ministry’s retirees ceremony held on Wednesday (March 15) at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston.
CommerceSocial Security

Workers Urged to Adequately Prepare for Retirement

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry, has underscored the need for workers to prepare for retirement by making adequate pension arrangements. This, he said, is important, particularly in light of the increase in average life expectancy, with persons living as many as 25 years after retiring. “Planning for retirement... is something we have...
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Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw (right), goes over documents with Minister of State in the Ministry, Fayval Williams, before opening the 2017/18 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 9.
Social Security

Government Provides Addition of $3.68 Billion to PATH

The Government is providing an increase of 47 per cent to the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), in a move to strengthen the country’s social safety net. This addition of $3.68 billion in the Budget for the 2017/18 financial year, brings to $11.47 billion the total provision for the programme, which targets some of the most vulnerable...
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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson (centre), cuts the ribbon to open the $86-million upgraded Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) Assessment Centre, located on Hanover Street, in downtown Kingston, Friday (March 3). Others (from left) are Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney; Social Protection and Health Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Donna Harris, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Colette Roberts Risden. In the background (from left) are Director for the ESP, Antonica Gunter-Gayle; Opposition Spokesman on Labour and Social Security, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, and Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dione Jennings.
Social Security

ESP Assessment Centre Upgraded

The Government has upgraded the Kingston facility responsible for assessing special needs children, at a cost of $86 million. Located at 95 Hanover Street, the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) Assessment Centre now has a multipurpose complex and provides more services to the children. Operating under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the ESP caters to the developmental needs of...
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