Government to Commence Implementation of SPIRO Project to Strengthen Social Protection Systems

The Government, with support from the World Bank, will begin implementation of the Social Protection for Increased Resilience and Opportunity (SPIRO) Project, to strengthen and expand Jamaica’s social protection systems.

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure as he delivered the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament on February 15.

He said one key initiative will be the establishment of an unemployment insurance scheme.

“To achieve true prosperity, we must have broad and deep participation in the economic and social aspects of our society to allow all our people the opportunity to flourish,” the Governor-General said.

Meanwhile, building on the progress made with the coming into effect of the Disabilities Act, an Accessibility Checklist, which serves as a practical guide for ensuring that the built environment is appropriate, was launched by the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities in December 2023.

“As we seek to improve the quality of life of all our citizens, you would recall that the Government increased the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) by up to 76 per cent and the minimum wage increase was the largest in the last 20 years,” the Governor-General said.

“The transition of security guards to employment contracts was effected to afford them key benefits related to overtime pay, sick and vacation leave,” he added.

The Governor-General further noted that the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) is the most critical arm of the Government’s social protection programme, and “we are moving to make it more accessible and responsive”.

“In that regard, stakeholder engagement has commenced as the first step in the overhaul,” he pointed out.