National Partnership Council Being Institutionalised

The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the National Partnership Council (NPC) is being developed to further strengthen the structure of the organisation, says Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon.

The NPC is a social dialogue collaboration involving the Government, trade unions, parliamentary Opposition, private sector, church, youth, women, environmentalists, academia, and other members of civil society.

The members engage in constructive and sustained social dialogue and collaborate on critical national economic and social issues.

Speaking during the sitting of the Upper House on Friday (October 27), Dr. Morris Dixon said the draft TOR, which is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year, is aimed at institutionalising the Council, which has existed since the mid-2000s.

It will clarify matters such as the frequency of meetings of the Council and its committee, how members are appointed, matters relating to quorum, the scope of the NPC and other details, she noted.

Dr. Morris Dixon said the Social Partnership Agreement of 2022 will serve as the basis for the institutionalisation.

The NPC, in the Partnership Agreement, recommitted itself to working in the nation’s long-term interest, with members dedicating themselves to the social and economic transformation of Jamaica, the fight to eradicate crime, corruption and poverty, and to ensure inefficiency and good governance.

Dr. Morris Dixon said that successive Prime Ministers have continued the work and the commitment to social partnership.

“The social partnership has, therefore, become an important part of the governance framework of our country. It is, therefore, important that we start to institutionalise elements of this partnership,” she said.

The national collaboration, she pointed out, plays a pivotal role in the transformation process by pooling diverse resources, expertise and perspectives together to address the multifaceted challenges that the country faces.

“No single entity or sector, regardless of its resources, can single-handedly drive significant change on a broad scale. Governments, despite our regulatory power, require the innovation and efficiency of the private sector.

“Similarly, the private sector benefits immensely from the structured frameworks and policies set by governments. By bridging these divides, partnerships ensure that policies are not only robust and comprehensive, but also pragmatic and implementable,” she contended.

Dr. Morris Dixon was speaking against the background of the observance of National Partnership Day on Wednesday (October 25).