Ministry of Labour and Social Security Advises Caution in Responding to Job Fairs Advertised on Social Media
Communication Unit
1F North Street, Kingston
Tel: (876) 967-5484
Fax: (876) 948-2831
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Ministry of Labour and Social Security Advises Caution in Responding to Job Fairs Advertised on Social Media
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is aware that Flyers have been circulating on Social Media, advertising Job Fairs for overseas opportunities. We are also aware of numerous persons have responded to these advertisements, and paid fees, only to realize that the individuals are operating illegally.
Members of the public are being urged to visit the Ministry’s Website at www.mlss.gov.jm to confirm the list of Employment Agencies which are licensed to operate in Jamaica, before engaging with employment offers. Persons may also contact the Ministry’s Employment Agencies Unit at 876-676-5806 or via email at employmentagenciesunit.ja@mlss.gov.jm for information.
The Ministry has established a hotline at 876-553-5457 to facilitate reports via WhatsApp. Persons who believe that they have been fleeced are encouraged to immediately contact the Ministry, and to report the matter to the JCF’s Fraud Squad.
Any individual or entity intending to engage in the recruitment of workers in Jamaica, for placement in jobs, locally or overseas is required, under the Employment Agencies Act, to obtain a Licence from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which is renewable annually.
Any person found to be operating in breach may be subject to a fine of One Million dollars ($1,000,000.00) and or up to twelve (12) months imprisonment, on conviction.
Individuals or entities operating without valid licences are urged to cease and desist and are strongly advised to immediately pursue steps to regularize their operations, as the Ministry has a zero-tolerance approach to employment scamming and illegal operators.
The head of the US delegation, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, Julie Stufft, confirmed that the Overseas Employment Programme and the Jamaican workers were highly valued by the US government, and the participating employers, noting that “Jamaica has a product which everyone wants”. Ms. Stufft assured the Jamaican team that her office would engage the relevant US government departments to explore recommendations for the expansions being sought by Jamaica.
The meeting was held at the Ministry’s North Street office in Kingston.
Contact: MLSS Communication Unit (876) 967-5484
|Email: prunit@mlss.gov.jm
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