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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says the Ministry, in partnership with the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC), will be implementing a number of initiatives throughout the year to increase productivity levels. Among those initiatives, he said, is the enlisting of a Japanese productivity expert, Tatsuo Kuraishi, who will be working closely with the JPC over the next...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is to pressure delinquent employers in both the public and private sectors to pay over National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, said this is to protect the interest of the pensioners of the country and contributors to the National Insurance Fund. The Minister was speaking at a contract signing...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has intensified plans to establish a Driver Training Institute at the Brown’s Town Community College in St. Ann, to undertake the professional training of trailer drivers and transport mechanics. This initiative is expected to commence by September 2013, and has been boosted by the gift of a trailer/truck valued at CD$45,000.00 (approximately $4.5...

The Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) has been improving its operations, through a Technical Co-operation Project, to better assist children with special needs. The six-month initiative, which began in September 2012, and currently funded bythe Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), seeks to provide training for child development officersin five areas of child development - self help skills, cognitive, social, emotional, and language...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be undertaking a pre-selection exercise for the Canadian farm work programme in March. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, during a statement on Tuesday (January 15) in the House of Representatives. He informed that the exercise will see representatives of the Ministry going island-wide to pre-select suitable persons to...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is inviting proposals for short-term social intervention programmes under its Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP). The initiative, now in its third phase, is jointly funded by the European Union (EU) and the Government of Jamaica. JSIF hassuccessfully implemented phases one and two of the programme and in this third segment, which focuses on a number...

The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) is the recipient of the Positive Images in the Media Award, presented by the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), for the agency’s positive representation of disabled persons. The award was presented at the Inaugural Disability Friendly Awards Gala and Dinner held on Monday (November 19) at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel.  The agency was...

The Government of Jamaica has disbursed some $21 million in economic empowerment grants to 62 persons with disabilities between November 2008 and October 2012. Additionally, more than $12 million in assistive aids were paid out to some 144 persons from April 2008 to October 2012. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, outlined the figures at an economic...

President of the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF), Wayne Chen, has stressed the need for businesses to operate within the formal economy, noting that this is critical for the country prosperity. "We recognize that one of the foundations of our future development will have to be increasing formality within the spheres of economic activity," Mr. Chen stated on September 4, as...

The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security have joined forces, to cater to the needs of the disabled community in Jamaica. Persons with special needs are now being equipped with a foreign language, which should prepare them for the world of work, both locally and internationally, says Modern Language Education Officer at the Ministry of Education,...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through its International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), has renewed its call on Jamaicans to assist in the campaign to end child labour in the country. Since 2000, Jamaica has been working with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to implement a national programme to prevent and eliminate child labour, says...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says he is pleased with the progress of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), having successfully reached its 46th Anniversary. “We recognise and salute those who were instrumental in the development of this scheme 46 years ago, and also those who continued the journey, which over the years, has benefitted thousands of...