Long-Serving Farm Workers Receive PM’s Length of Service Certificate

Ninety Jamaicans, who have participated in the United States (US) Farm Work Programme for several years, have been presented with the Prime Minister’s Length of Service Certificate.

The workers are from farms in Hudson Valley in New York, which is the second largest apple growing area in the US, and were recognised for service ranging from 15 years to over 30 years.

The farms are W.G. Minard, Pordiglia, Hudson River and M. G. Hurd.

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, who made the presentations on behalf of Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller in New York recently, lauded the farmers for their many years of service.

He pointed out that they are integral to the success of the Farm Work Programme.

Minister Kellier told the farmers that the Ministry is actively engaged in crafting training initiatives for farm workers, in partnership with various educational and vocational institutions, geared towards maintaining a pool of persons equipped and trained to participate in the programme.

He also cited plans to increase the number of farm workers, who participate in the programme on an annual basis, and urged employers to use their influence to expand the potential employer base.

Minister Kellier updated the farmers on the recent changes to the United States Jamaica Seasonal Agriculture H2A Programme (Farm Worker Programme).

He said that workers are now responsible for their own health care, personal welfare and families back home. Most importantly, farmers should be aware of the changes and actively engage in filing their annual tax returns in a timely manner.

“It is going to be in everybody’s interest to do so, since this has now become an inescapable feature of the United States Jamaica Seasonal Agriculture Programme,” Minister Kellier said.