No One Will Be Left Behind – Minister Charles Jr.

The Government is committed to promoting decent work and social protection for all regardless of occupation or employment status, says Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.

He said that no one will be left behind.

“So, as simple as you have seen it, even in our overseas employment programme, we have integrated persons with disabilities as a mandate,” the Minister noted.

“We have ensured that when someone gets even a farm-work card and they travel from Westmoreland, if they don’t get through with the interview, they’re not just put to the side. They now should have the option of being diverted to a programme to help solve whatever the challenge was.

“So, if it was a literacy issue, let us put you in a literacy class… . Whatever the issue is, we don’t want anyone to be left behind; that’s not a productive approach. Right now, we need all hands on deck,” he said.

Minister Charles Jr. was addressing the Future of Work and Productivity Seminar at the AC Kingston Hotel in St. Andrew on June 20.

He said the Ministry is on a mission to create a labour market that is agile, adaptable, and responsive to the needs of the 21st century.

“To achieve that, we have.. .committed to enhancing the employability of our citizens through training and upskilling. We have committed to fostering that culture of innovation and entrepreneurship through all the programmes we have at the Ministry and across government,” he noted.

He said the future of work is not only about individual workers but also building a resilient and sustainable economy that benefits all Jamaicans.

“So, we have to work together… to create that environment that will support productivity. And so, the Government is encouraging that social dialogue and… fostering partnerships among educational institutions, businesses and the Government to ensure that our workforce is truly equipped to face the challenges of the future,” the Minister said.

The seminar is being hosted by the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC), an agency of the Ministry, under the theme ‘Bridging the Innovation and Productivity Gaps: Education, Skills and Economic Transformation’.

The two-day event brings together chief executive officers, human resource practitioners, academia, policymakers and industry leaders, to explore the evolving landscape of work and its impact on productivity.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Colette Roberts Risden, said the summit is an opportunity to harness the collective wisdom, creativity and dedication of all stakeholders – Government, private sector, academia and civil society.

“Over the next two days, we will seek to carefully examine the challenges that have delayed our progress and explore innovative solutions that will propel us forward,” she noted.