The Work Permit Section of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is responsible for the administration of the Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens (Employment) Act and the Caribbean Community Free Movement of Skilled Persons Act (Copies of the acts are available at the Jamaica Printing Services.
New Work Permit Fees
For Immediate Release: Monday 1st April, 2019 – Kingston, Jamaica.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security wishes to advise foreign nationals who do not enjoy diplomatic status or are not exempted under the Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens (Employment) Act, but intend to work in Jamaica, that applications for work permits are now at a cost of $17,250 each, effective April 1, 2019.
Other associated fees are now standardised across all sectors, denoting a single fee schedule which is defined by the duration of the permit. The following outlines the new charges associated with the period of time for which a permit is granted:
Duration of Permit Cost
Up to 3 months $48,875
More than 3 months but not
exceeding 6 months $97,750
More than 6 months but not
exceeding 9 months $146,625
More than 9 months but not
exceeding 12 months $195,500
A Work Permit is a document (card) bearing a number and photograph that is issued to an expatriate which authorizes that individual to work in Jamaica according to its stipulations for a specified period of time.
Persons seeking to obtain a work permit are required to make an application to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security through their prospective employer, contractor (individuals), the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro – Investors) or through legal representation.
The Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens (Employment) Exemptions Regulations 1964 lists the different categories of persons who are eligible to receive exemptions from the requirements of work permits.
For further information, please contact the Work Permit Unit at (876) 922-9500-12 or visit www.mlss.gov.jm to download information checklists and application forms.
-30-
Contact: Sandrea Dennis Plummer (Mrs), Public Relations Manager Straight Line: (876) 967-5484 CUG: (876) 550-3527|Email: sandrea.plummer@mlss.gov.jm or prunit@mlss.gov.jm
Labour Ministry To Strengthen Work Permit System
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will use a US$1.5 million fund from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to strengthen its work permit system. The improvement of the system, according to Minister Shahine Robinson, is to be done under the public sector modernisation project.
“I want to assure you that there is a rigorous process in place for the work permit applications. The IDB, through the Ministry of Finance, will fund the strengthening of our work permit system. The aim of the programme is to roll out a new client-focused, web-based work permit system that will be linked to the Labour Market Information System,” Robinson said at her ministry’s quarterly press briefing yesterday.
SKILLS BANK
She said that it is envisioned that the new system will, among other things, provide a local skills bank in relation to the importation of skilled workers, resulting in more stringent measures for approval. It will also serve to shorten the time allotted for processing and will assist in simplifying the process of doing business in Jamaica.
Robinson also disclosed that effective April 1, work permit fees would be standardised across all sectors of the labour market. Work permit application fees will increase from $15,000 to $17,250. Work permit fees will now be $48,875 per quarter or part thereof. This equates to $195,500 per annum.
According to the minister, the adjustment is necessary because of the disparity across the system in regards of fees being charged.
She said that in the case of persons coming to Jamaica to work, it would make more sense for the adoption of a single standard-fee policy that would cover all sectors of employment.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
MINISTRY STATEMENT ON ISSUED WORK PERMITS FOR HOTEL PROJECTS
Public Relations Unit
1F North Street, Kingston
Tel: (876) 967-5484
Fax: (876) 948-2831
Thursday, July 23, 2020
MINISTRY STATEMENT ON ISSUED WORK PERMITS FOR HOTEL PROJECTS
Based on information received from PICA, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security can confirm the arrival of 34 persons in Jamaica with renewed Work Permits on July 21, 2020. The Ministry has no record of a Work Permit application for one individual among the 35 listed on the Aircraft Manifest.
The skills sets represented by these individuals, indicate a range of specialists such as Air Conditioning, Under Water Welding, Resort Circuit, Thermaflax and Resort Air Duct. Approval of the renewals was granted between March and July of this year.
It is important to note that all 35 persons are employed to Clima Insular Caribe Ltd that has been contracted by RIU Hotel, to do works on their refurbishing and expansion projects.
The company had indicated that these persons had previously completed projects of a similar nature in Jamaica and their expertise was needed to interpret and execute the design needs of the hotel. Furthermore, the new refurbishing project in Montego Bay will provide employment to for approximately Four Hundred (400) Jamaicans.
In the meantime, newly appointed Minister of Labour and Social Security, Lester ‘Mike’ Henry has given instructions for strengthening of the Work Permit Committee that reviews applications. He says it must now include a representative from the HEART TRUST/ NTA to verify the availability of skills set in the Jamaican Labour Market before anymore permits are granted.
Contact: V George Palmer, Dir. Public Relations & Communications (876) 820-5373 or (876) 967-5484
|Email: vando.palmer@mlss.gov.jm/prunit@mlss.gov.jm
Like and follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlssjamaica/?ref=bookmarks; Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamaicaMlss and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlssjamaica Visit our website: www.mlss.gov.jm for more
Work Permit
What is a Work Permit?
Eligibility for Work Permit or Exemption
Application Form Requirements
Documents to be submitted with Applications
Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME)
Labour ministry says fewer work permits granted to foreigners
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Labour and Social Security Minister Shahine Robinson today reported that fewer work permits were granted to foreigners for the period April to June, 2018.
Speaking at a quarterly press briefing held at the ministry’s North Street offices today, Robinson disclosed that 1,334 permits were granted for the period and of that number, 831 were new applications and 503 were renewals.
“For the corresponding period last year, we issued 1,675 permits; 835 of them were new applications and 781 were renewals,” she informed.
Robinson said that the granting of work permits is critical in realising the nation’s economic growth.
“It is a mechanism to plug the gaps in skill sets needed to provide sizeable manpower investments in tourism, construction and infrastructure. Many projects being carried out across the island require specialised skills that may not be available locally in adequate numbers,” she explained.
The minister said she has insisted on a thorough review of all applications for work permits to ensure that these are not been issued for skills that exist locally, and, as a result, the numbers are trending down.
“As your minister, I do believe that we have a responsibility to find the balance between facilitating investment opportunities as well as meeting the employment needs of our citizens,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the ministry, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), has developed a project to modernise the work permit system.
Robinson noted that this will replace the existing legacy system with a new client-focused, web-based work permit software.
“The new regime will be designed to cut the processing time for work permits, analyse the database of skills in Jamaica and help to simplify the process of doing business,” she noted.
Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Labour_ministry_says_fewer_work_permits_granted_to_foreigners_?profile=1228
Labour & Social Security Minister Hosts Cayman Delegation
Public Relations Unit
1F North Street, Kingston
Tel: (876) 967-5484
Fax: (876) 948-2831
Friday, August 12, 2022
Labour & Social Security Minister Hosts Cayman Delegation
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda, today hosted a delegation from the Cayman Islands at his North Street office. The delegation was led by Hon. Christopher Saunders, deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Labour. The Deputy Premier was accompanied by Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Transport, Mr. Vinton Chinsee, Chief Financial Officer and Mr. Wesley Howell, Chief Officer, UK Passport.
Minister Samuda expressed pleasure in welcoming the delegation, noting that the Caribbean is a melting pot of races and cultures which share a common core of heritage and lifestyles. For his part, Minister Saunders congratulated Jamaica on the quality of talent which the island continues to export, noting that the Jamaicans accounted for the second largest population in Cayman, second only in numbers to Caymanians.
Minister Samuda, who was accompanied by Chief Technical Director, Mrs. Dionne Jennings, engaged the delegation in discussions on the systems used to grant Work Permits in Jamaica, noting that as much as 57% of Cayman’s labour force is imported. Minister Samuda disclosed that approximately 5,000 persons are currently in Jamaica on Work Permits, representing 0.4% of the employed labour force. The Minister emphasized the fact that a Jamaican Work Permit is not a Permanent Visa, and explained that one condition of granting Work Permits is that the employer must ensure that Jamaicans benefit from training by the immigrant team, as a means of building capacity in the Jamaican workforce, thereby reducing the need to continue to import skilled labour in those fields.
Further discussions are to be held with the Cayman team, which has also expressed an interest in replicating Jamaica’s HEART Trust NSTA, as a means of building Cayman’s pool of local persons certified in Vocational Skills.
Contact: MLSS Communication Unit (876) 967-5484
|Email: prunit@mlss.gov.jm
Like and follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlssjamaica/?ref=bookmarks; Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamaicaMlss and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlssjamaica Visit our website: www.mlss.gov.jm for more
JICA Senior Volunteer visits with the Minister of Labour and Social Security
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson (centre), introduces Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Colette Roberts-Risden, to Senior Volunteer, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Tobita Kenji, when he visited the Ministry on North Street in Kingston, on Wednesday (March 20). The visit came after a press tour of the Work Permit Department, which was held on March 11 and hosted by the Jamaica Productivity Centre, which has partnered with JICA since 2009 to improve firm-based and national productivity.
Source: JIS
Labour Ministry Deals With Overseas Pensioners
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson, says the reason overseas-based pensioners experienced difficulties in receiving pension payments was due to a newly implemented payment process.
She said the Ministry will ensure the situation does not recur.
“I am happy to report that entitlements for the United States and Canadian-based pensioners were uploaded in August, with pensioners verifying the receipt of the overdue payments,” she said.
The Minister was speaking at a quarterly press briefing, held at the Ministry’s North Street office in Kingston on September 4.
Mrs. Robinson noted further that United Kingdom and Rest-of-the-World-based pensioners can also expect to receive payments no later than this weekend.
“We have been advised that all the issues have been resolved, and we will now ensure that the payments due for September 15 are on time,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Robinson said the Ministry is working to improve customer service delivery to its clients, particularly in the processing of claims for social assistance; the turnaround time for work permit applications; and the turnaround time for the delivery of awards from the Industrial Disputes Tribunal.
She said the customer reception areas are also being improved to provide more efficiency in responding to telephone and email requests.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will, this financial year, also commission into service new offices in St. Ann’s Bay, St. Ann and Lucea, Hanover, as part of a project to improve infrastructure at its parish offices.
Mrs. Robinson said other offices are also being upgraded, including the St. James parish office.
Source: https://jis.gov.jm/labour-ministry-deals-with-overseas-pensioners/