Ministry Sets Up Oversight Committee to Coordinate Welfare Help for Team Members

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has set up an Oversight Committee to coordinate welfare interventions for team members impacted by hurricane Melissa.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., made the disclosure during a press briefing held at the Ministry’s North Street offices in Kingston, on November 20.

He said the committee will ensure that the activities are transparent, fair and responsive to individual needs.

“We have more than 100 of our team members that have been significantly impacted by this hurricane; at least eight that have lost everything. When I say everything, I mean the entire house and its contents. And what’s remarkable is on my own visit to St. James, to Westmoreland, they were still working for this country, serving the people despite their own circumstances,” Mr. Charles Jr. said.

“The team members… are primarily those who are called on as first responders, and so we can agree that the work required to serve this nation and to serve the most vulnerable citizens requires us also to take care of the team members who have been affected,” he added.

Mr. Charles Jr. said the team members will be targeted in terms of the assistance to ensure that they can get up and running to do the work of the Ministry.

“The Ministry will be making available to our staff counselling services, particularly to those who have experienced trauma or loss, and we will be introducing more extended flexible work arrangements to help the affected employees return to work gradually, based on their circumstances and to give support to their involvement in community recovery efforts,” he noted.

He added that the Ministry is awaiting a list of other government workers who have been equally affected to ensure priority is given to their situation.