Details of Unemployment Insurance Scheme to Be Submitted to Cabinet

Jamaica is moving ahead with the establishment of the country’s first unemployment insurance scheme.

Details of the proposed model, governance, management, and investment strategy will be submitted to Cabinet for approval in the current financial year, said Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.

He was making his contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 29).

Minister Charles Jr. said the Marshall Hall-led Labour Market Reform Commission recommended the establishment of the scheme.

“The need for such a scheme was brought into sharp focus by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Social Protection for Increased Resilience and Opportunity (SPIRO) Project, we will implement Jamaica’s first-ever unemployment insurance benefit,” he said.

Turning to other matters, he said that the Ministry will be utilising technology to improve service delivery through the Innovation Transformation Project (ITP).

“I have appointed an ITP Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the private and public sectors, to provide strategic direction and oversight,” he said.

The Minister informed that phase one of the project will focus on greater use of digital payments for the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education, pensions, and other social benefits; development of a National Insurance Scheme portal for contribution tracking; and a mobile application for the Overseas Employment Programme, as well as the modernisation of the work permit system.