News Categories: Labour

Washington, DC – Jamaica’s Minister of Labor and Social Security, Shahine Robinson is pursuing plans to increase the seasonal work program with the United States.  She made this announcement after a meeting with top-level officials in the US Department of Labor, the Department of State, and the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, DC.

According to the minister, the talks were fruitful and from all indications the response to the request was positive.

At present there are 7,000 Jamaicans participating in the program in the United States: 4,981 of them in the farm work program and 1,693 in hospitality. “I am looking to double this figure, as this program is important to the Jamaican worker and to the economy as well as to the US.”

Minister Robinson along with State Minister in the Ministry of Labor and Socila Security Hon. Zavia Mayne were in Washington where discussions were held with US Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs in the Department of Labor Martha Newton; US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs in the Department of State, Carl Risch; and Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Dougherty.

The minister along with her delegation who were on an official visit to the United States from August 13 – 17, toured farms in Albany, New York, where she met with over 60 workers, and employers some of whom have been with the program for over forty years. She also visited hotel workers in Sea Island Resort in Georgia, which employs over 170 Jamaican workers under the hospitality program.  Seventy workers were presented with certificates recognizing their participation for four consecutive years.

In addressing the 75^th anniversary launch of the US Seasonal Program at a reception at the Embassy of Jamaica, Minister. Robinson pointed out that the program was born out of the need to address a labor shortage in the United States in 1943.  After seventy five years, it has proven to be one of the longest relationships between Jamaica and the US.  “Indeed, it is a fine example of cooperation, friendship, sincerity and commitment.  A relationship worthy of emulation,” the minister said.

Minister Robinson said that Jamaicans from all strata have been beneficiaries of this program, directly or indirectly.  It is a program that has stayed with us through decades of changes, war, self-government into independence and continues to play a significant role in improving the lives of Jamaicans.

The minister disclosed that there will be year-long activities in Jamaica and the US to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the US Seasonal Workers Program.  The minister’s delegation consisted of Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks; Director of Industrial Relations and Allied Services, Jillian Corrodus; Advisor to the minister Beatrice Roden; and Jamaica Central Labour  Organization  Chief Liaison Officer  Methelina Scarlett-Jones.

Source: https://sflcn.com/jamaica-plans-to-increase-the-u-s-seasonal-work-program/

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Another 80 Jamaicans will be taking up employment opportunities in Canada under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP).

The workers, who comprise 80 per cent returnees, will be deployed mainly to Ontario and Nova Scotia.

In her address to the workers at a send-off ceremony held at the Ministry of Labour’s Overseas Employment Services Centre in downtown Kingston yesterday, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Shahine Robinson, encouraged them to be good ambassadors for Jamaica.

“Ensure that you conduct yourselves in an acceptable manner, both on and off the job, and be your brother’s keeper. Be sure to perform your duties to the best of your ability, bearing in mind the importance of productivity and accountability,” the minister urged.

Robinson further encouraged them to work hard, distinguish themselves, and ensure that they comply with the terms of their contract, and to make their family and country proud.

“This will ensure that your employer continues to request not only your services but that of other Jamaican workers,” she said.

She added that the programme represents a long-standing tradition of partnership between Jamaica and Canada and has positively impacted the lives of many Jamaicans, who have used the opportunity to improve their standard of living and that of their families.

In the meantime, High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica, Her Excellency Laurie Peters, said the programme has been a success for both Jamaica and for Canada, “because it means such a boost to the livelihoods of Canadian farmers and Jamaican workers and, in fact, our economies”.

“It is lovely to see not only the 80 per cent returnees who make this programme so successful, but also the 20 per cent of newbies who are perhaps starting a legacy or tradition for themselves and for their families,” she said.

This was the second official send-off ceremony to be held since the start of the year. The first took place in January.

The SAWP, which is part of the ministry’s Overseas Employment Programme, involves contractual agricultural workers who are recruited to meet the short-term demand of manual labour during planting and harvesting seasons.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/80_more_Jamaicans_off_to_Canada_under_SAWP

The National Minimum Wage Table for the years 1992-2016.

Scores of Jamaicans living with HIV/AIDS, who face stigma and discrimination, are set to get help with the establishment of the Jamaica Anti-Discrimination System for HIV (JADS)

According to Jumoke Patrick, the executive director for the Jamaica Network of Seropositives (JN+), it has collected close to 1,000 reports of cases of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV since 1997.

“We have a database where we store all this information. We have a steering committee that manages and governs the system and we work with different partners,” Patrick told The Sunday Gleaner.

These partners include the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Office of the Public Defender, the Ministry of Health, the Dispute Resolution Foundation, and the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition, among others.

“We have a lot of success cases. We have three redress officers who work for JN+. They operate in the different regions to collect these cases from the health clinics and other entities,” explained Patrick.

REPORT FORMS AVAILABLE

He said report forms are made available at health facilities so that patients who feel they have been discriminated against can file a claim. Persons can also visit the organisation’s office at 3 Trevennion Park in St Andrew to submit their reports.

“I think one of the most recent success stories at JADS is about two weeks ago. A young lady was dismissed from her job because of her HIV status, and she came to us and we worked with Jamaicans for Justice, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on it. It went to court and she won the case, and while she is not going to take back the job, she will be compensated for being dismissed wrongfully,” added Patrick.

There are more than 30,000 Jamaicans living with HIV/AIDS, and Patrick said some of these persons face discrimination in the workplace, at health facilities and in their communities.

“People are kicked out of their homes, landlords tell people to move out because of their perceived HIV status, just hearing of your HIV status without even confirming or even knowing is one of the reasons.

“People are dismissed from their jobs; especially those jobs that require you to have interactions with clients or customers.

“One of our members, she was told that she had to do a medical to go to nursing school, this was couple of years back. She was HIV-positive and because of that, they didn’t want to accept her. that was a success story as well, because we advocated on her behalf and she was allowed to be part of the nursing school,” added Patrick.

He said while persons who are HIV-positive in the food industry, and in the hotels, are most often the ones who face discrimination on the job, discrimination in the workplace is widespread.

According to Patrick: “We have persons who have been dismissed from top-name companies in Jamaica because of their perceived HIV status, and we also have the problem where when people are being asked to do medicals, etc, their HIV status is being revealed to employers without the permission of the persons.”

He noted that while those living with HIV/AIDS are often more inclined to suffer stigmatisation in silence, more and more people are coming forward to share their experiences.

“One of their fears is talking about it because people may know of their HIV status and they don’t want to disclose their status, because that is a bigger problem for them than being treated badly by somebody,” said Patrick.

nadine.wilson@gleanerjm.com

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20180715/solid-support-more-help-coming-persons-living-hivaids-who-face

THE Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) says that 16 illegal operators of private employment agencies were identified by its inspectors during the 2017/18 financial year.

The MLSS says that of the 16 identified, three have since complied with the regulations to become legalised, while the others are closed.

The ministry says that under the Employment Agencies Regulation Act, private operators of these agencies are required to provide current information regarding the number of individuals registered, vacancies and placements on a quarterly basis.

However, there was no indication as to whether the other 13 are still making efforts to become legal or have permanently closed down.

According to the ministry’s Annual Performance Report, the monitoring is done by its Employment Agency Unit (EAU), whose objective it is to alleviate unemployment through issuing licences to employment agency operators, allowing them to seek employment opportunities for clients both locally and overseas.

The unit operates islandwide monitoring of the agencies to ensure compliance with the Act, which has been in effect since 1957.

The unit also has authority for recommending the granting, renewal or revocation of the licences.

The examination of the agencies includes checks on the office premises to determine if they are conducive to business. In addition, the unit also ensures that proper mechanisms are in place for record keeping, and that information is submitted to the MLSS on a quarterly basis, in accordance with the law.

The data from the unit showed that for 2017/18, 6,893 Jamaicans were placed in employment locally and overseas. This indicated that there was a significant increase of 4,575 or 197.4 per cent in the number of Jamaicans placed, both locally and overseas, by the legal agencies, compared to 2016/17.

This increase was attributed to a rise in the number of students who participated in the J1 student work and travel programme, as well as a vast improvement in data coverage for 2017/18.

Of the total number of placements, 1,089 or 15.7 per cent were placed locally. Closer examination of the data revealed that 5,933 people were registered with private operators to source employment overseas, while 1,636 were registered for local employment. Of the 5,933 registrants seeking employment overseas, 5,804 were placed in jobs.

It also showed that 2,822 people were placed on the H2B Hospitality Programme. This is 2,758 more than the previous year.

The unit says that for 2018/19, it is projecting to implement action to regularise more illegal operators as well as implement action to increase public awareness, including conducting workshops, and review the Employment Agency Regulation Act.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/16-illegal-job-agencies-closed-in-2017-18_138184?profile=1373

Sixty youth from the Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) in Denham Town, Kingston, are benefiting from training geared towards preparing them for the job market.

The intervention, being carried out by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, got under way on Wednesday (July 4) with a registration, orientation and motivational session at the Medallion Hall Hotel in St. Andrew.

Acting Director, Electronic Labour Exchange Department in the Ministry, Dahlia Green, who spoke to JIS News, said that the objective is to prepare them for opportunities in the public and private sectors.

She said that the Ministry cares about the welfare of the youth who have been affected by violence and other challenges.

“We want to expose them to a change of atmosphere, and we are preparing them for the world of work. We realise that these persons… are in different areas and they may not know that there are other opportunities out there, so we want them to be exposed,” she added.

Ms. Green said that the training will continue with a five-day workshop from July 9 to 13 at the Ministry’s offices at 1F North Street.

“Different persons will be coming in to teach different topics… for example, résumé writing, how to handle an interview, how to dress for work and what to expect in the workplace,” she told JIS News.

She informed that at the end of the session, “we will be having a mini job fair, where employers will be coming in to interview these persons and, hopefully, at the end of that, they will be selected for employment”.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness declared Denham Town a ZOSO on October 17, 2017,  under the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act.

The law seeks to contain crime while safeguarding the human rights of residents and promoting community development through social-intervention initiatives in communities where a zone operates.

Source: https://jis.gov.jm/labour-ministry-preparing-60-youngsters-from-denham-town-for-job-market/

Skilled Jamaicans and other qualified Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals are broadening their access to employment opportunities within the region through the free movement regime.

With the acquisition of a Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification, which is a provision under the CARICOM (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) Act, qualified persons are able to move and work freely in another territory without the need for a work permit or permit of stay.

The Act was promulgated in July 1997 in furtherance of the provisions of the 1989 Grand Anse Declaration that underpins the advancement of the Caribbean regional integration process through the creation of a CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Since then, Jamaica has adopted legislation that provides for the movement of skilled nationals in the 10 approved categories across the region.

These are university graduates, artistes, musicians, sportspersons, media workers, registered nurses with diplomas or degrees, teachers with diplomas, artisans with at least level 2 CARICOM Vocational Qualification (CVQ), holders of associate degrees, and household domestics with a CVQ level 2. The National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) is also accepted in Jamaica.

Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, tells JIS News that while there have been challenges, he is of the view that a workable regime has been designed for the movement of skilled nationals.

He notes that since the regime came into effect two decades ago, 16,000 Caribbean nationals have been issued with CARICOM skills certificates.

These include 3,865 that originated locally, according to Director of the Work Permit Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), Lisa-Ann Grant.

Ms. Grant notes that of those issued in Jamaica, 3,073 were to locals to work in other territories.

Since the start of the year, 60 Jamaicans and 18 CARICOM nationals have been provided with skills certificates in Jamaica.

Ms. Grant says she is proud of the work that has been done to facilitate nationals gaining employment across the region, particularly university graduates.

“(As) a graduate from the university, traditionally, 20 years ago, I could only seek a job in Jamaica. Now we have a region that is no longer seeing me as Jamaican, but seeing me as CARICOM, so I can apply in a bigger space for employment,” she says.

She notes, as well, that since the category of household domestics was added in 2010, it has allowed more nationals to move as there is a demand for that skill in some member states.

In addition, Ms. Grant informs that persons are moving within the Sandals hotel chain throughout the region. “That’s the good thing; you’re now able to get experiences outside – a different world view,” she says.

Ms. Grant points out that persons can obtain a CARICOM skills certificate without a job offer. “The skills certificate is a recognition of your skills. So, I may have a skills certificate but I may not choose to use it to move. It doesn’t change the fact that I have been so recognised as skilled,” she explains.

“It’s a recognition of your skills, so it doesn’t expire. You can choose to update your skills certificate, because a unique identifier on the certificate is your passport number and for most, if not all jurisdictions, that will expire after 10 years, so you may choose to update your skills certificate with your new passport number… (or) to amend (the information) because you have a higher level of skills,” she points out.

Ms. Grant further notes that once nationals have the requisite qualifications, they can apply for the skills certificate in any member state.

“You are skilled, so you can be recognised in any member state. So as a Jamaican, I can apply for my skills certificate in Trinidad, Barbados, St. Lucia, Belize, in Suriname,” she points out.

Explaining the process of obtaining the CARICOM skills certificate, Ms. Grant informs that nationals will first need to contact the Ministry’s 1F North Street location and indicate their intention to apply.

Once the Ministry determines that such a person is eligible, he or she will be sent an application form by email, which is to be completed and returned to the Ministry along with specified documents. These are:

• A certified copy of the applicant’s birth certificate.
• A copy of the biodata page on the applicant’s passport, which should be signed by a Justice of the Peace.
• A police report from the country in which the applicant has resided for the last three years.
• Three certified passport-sized photographs.
• Documents indicating a name change (marriage certificate or deed poll documents), if applicable.
• A certified copy of university degree, associate degree, diploma, professional qualifications.
• For employed or self-employed persons, a cover letter detailing the purpose for application.

Once the certificate is issued by the competent authority, CARICOM nationals are granted a stay of six months, and during that period, they are required to submit their skills certificate to the competent authority of the host country for acceptance.

“The competent authority may verify the validity of the certificate and the documentation on which it has been issued. During the period of consideration by the competent authority, the CARICOM national can work,” Ms Grant notes.

For the island of Jamaica, she informs that the verification process involves persons taking in a certified copy of the skills certificate, a certified copy of the biodata page of their passport, three passport-sized pictures, and completing a simple information-gathering form at the MLSS office.

“Once that is done, I will contact the member state. Once it is verified, then we will give you a letter to take to the immigration department where you will be given an unconditional stamp,” she explains.

Ms. Grant stresses that legitimate, bonafide certificates can only be issued by the competent authority.

For Jamaica, this is the Ministry’s 1F North Street location only.

For more information, please contact: Ministry of Labour and Social Security 1F North Street Kingston. Phone: (876) 922-9500-14; Email: prunit@mlss.gov.jm
Website: mlss.gov.jm.

Source: https://jis.gov.jm/caricom-skills-certificate-widening-access-to-employment-opportunities/

The number of disputes reported to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security between 2007/08 and 2017/18 has increased by approximately 10 per cent, while disagreements relating to dismissals and suspensions moved from 66 to 149, an increase of 125 per cent over the same period.

Those are among the findings of a preliminary study on emerging trends in industrial disputes in Jamaica conducted by the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute and Mona School of Business and Management at The University of the West Indies.

According to the study, in 2007/08 nearly 30 per cent of all disputes were related to wages and conditions of employment, while in 2017/2018 the figure dropped to approximately 10 per cent.

“There were no reported disputes over bargaining and representational rights claim in 2016/17 and 2017/18, although in 2007/08, 23 per cent of disputes fell into this category. Disputes over dismissals and suspensions now represent approximately 85 per cent of total disputes reported,” the study revealed.

It also showed that in the period under review, the lowest number of disputes, 159 across all industries and causes, were recorded in 2009/10 and peaked in 2015/2016 at 445. It fell to 360 in 2016/17, and 202 in 2017/18.

Head of the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Education Institute Danny Roberts, and senior lecturer and head of the Behavioural Sciences and General Management Unit at the Mona School of Business and Management Dr Noel Cowell, who conducted the study, said that the available data from the ministry up to 2015/2016 showed a significant jump in the number of disputes reported by non-unionised workers since the 2010 amendments to the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act.

The amendment allowed for non-unionised workers to have their disputes referred to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal where those disputes were classified as disputes of rights. More than 70 per cent of the total disputes reported to the ministry were from non-unionised workers.

The study showed that manufacturing, wholesale and retail, transport, storage, and communication and education accounted for nearly 50 per cent of all disputes over the last two years.

The researchers pointed out that the pattern of industrial disputes has shifted away from disputes of interests, relating to wage and conditions of employment, to disputes of rights, relating to dismissals and suspensions, which are more evident among non-unionised workers.

The study showed that, while the number of disputes have increased marginally over the period, the pattern of work stoppages has been on a downward trajectory, as no more than five were recorded in the 2015/16 period, coming from a high of 21 in 2007/08.

The researchers concluded that the prevailing industrial relations climate in Jamaica, with its declining union membership, changes in managerial values, management’s proactive approach to industrial relations, and the changing role of government, have combined to constrain the traditional activities of trade unions.

They also noted that trade unions have had to alter the relationship between themselves and management and work more cooperatively to ensure the organisation’s competitiveness is restored in order to protect jobs.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/study-shows-more-industrial-disputes-recorded_137523?profile=1373

An estimated 38,000 Jamaican youth between the ages of five and 17 years old are involved in child labour, and 26,000 work in hazardous conditions, as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

These are some of the findings contained in the Jamaica National Youth Activity Survey conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) and the ILO, which identified 53,274 children overall engaged in economic activities.

“If you have a six-year-old doing chores for a number of hours a week, it could be considered child labour,” Resel Melville, national coordinator for the Caribbean Support Programme, told The Gleaner yesterday. She was one of two ILO representatives to speak on ‘The Caribbean in the Global Fight Against Child Labour’, during the launch of a weeklong training of trainers workshop, at the Terra Nova Hotel, which ends on Friday.

“We have participants from the National Insurance Scheme, labour inspectors from the Pay and Employment Branch. We have work permit investigators, officers from the Occupational Safety and Health Department, and also investigators from the employment agency at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security,” Sasha Deer Gordon, director of the Child Labour Unit in the labour ministry, told The Gleaner, adding that child labour is “really a big issue” in Jamaica.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

The survey defined economic activities as including to:

– Catching fish, wild animals or other food for sale or for the household.

– Helping (unpaid) in a household business of any kind.

– Fetching water or collecting firewood for household use.

– Domestic work for wage or salary or any payment in kind.

WHAT IS CHILD LABOUR?

– Child labour refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful to children and interferes with their schooling.

– The Jamaica National Youth Activity Survey 2016 captured information on hazardous work and child labour other than hazardous work, namely:

– Children aged five to 12 in employment

– Children aged 13-17 years in hazardous work such as employment that endanger their health, safety and moral development.

– The survey identified child labour as a subset of working children and focused only on children ages five to 17, since it is unusual for children under the age of five to start working. The main objective was to collect comprehensive information on children’s engagement in economic activities.

– A child (five to 17 years) is considered to be working if he/she is engaged for at least one hour in the production of economic goods and/or services for pay or profit or without pay in a family farm/business.

Melville explained that the definition of child labour would have to factor in cultural practices, hence the need to sensitise the public to the nuances.

“We are not saying that all child work is bad, because children have to develop discipline. They have to learn skills, they have to engage with social norms and practices, but at the end of the day, we have to be cognisant that there must be boundaries in terms of duration,” she added.

For this reason, protective measures must be put in place to ensure that children are not exploited or forced to work under conditions that damage them morally, physically, socially, psychologically or otherwise, Melville noted, while calling for greater awareness on the issue.

“The truth is that sometimes we see it daily but we don’t recognise it for what it is because we have become culturally insensitive to it,” she stated.

christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20180703/thousands-jamaican-children-engaged-child-labour-survey

Jamaicans seeking skills certificates to work in another Caribbean territory are advised to submit applications to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Director of the Work Permit Department, Lisa-Ann Grant, said that legitimate, bonafide skills certificates can only be issued by a competent authority.

For Jamaica, this is the Ministry’s 1F North Street location only.

“We are having a serious problem of Jamaicans moving with fraudulent documents. Many persons do not realise that when somebody approaches you on the street that is not the process. All applications must be submitted at 1F North Street… not our offices around the island,” she pointed out.

The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) provides for the free movement of 10 categories of skilled workers.

These are university graduates, artistes, musicians, sportspersons, media workers, registered nurses with diplomas or degrees, teachers with diplomas, artisans with at least level 2 CARICOM Vocational Qualification (CVQ), holders of associate degrees, and household domestics with a CVQ level 2. The National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) is also accepted in Jamaica.

Explaining the process of obtaining the CARICOM skills certificate, Ms. Grant informed that interested nationals will first need to contact the Ministry’s 1F North Street location and indicate their intention to apply.

Once the Ministry determines that such a person is eligible, he or she will be sent an application form by email. The applicant is required to submit the completed form along with the following documents:

• A certified copy of the birth certificate.
• A copy of the biodata page on the applicant’s passport, which should be signed by a Justice of the Peace.
(more)

• A police report from the country in which the applicant has resided for the last three years.
• Three certified passport-sized photographs.
• Documents indicating a name change (marriage certificate or deed poll documents), if applicable.
• A certified copy of university degree, associate degree, diploma, professional qualifications.
• For employed or self-employed persons, a cover letter detailing the purpose for application.

All applications must be submitted to the Work Permit Department of the Ministry, along with a processing fee of $2,000.

Processing is carried out within eight weeks, following which the applicant or a representative may collect the certificate after paying a fee of $8,000. A further $2,000 is charged for each dependent.

To have certificates amended, persons will have to pay $2,000, and in the event that a certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, applicants will be required to pay $3,000 to replace the document.

Once the certificate is issued, CARICOM nationals are granted a stay of six months in another country, and during that period, they are required to submit their skills certificate to the competent authority of the host country for acceptance.

“The competent authority may verify the validity of the certificate and the documentation on which it has been issued. During the period of consideration by the competent authority, the CARICOM national can work,” Ms Grant noted.

For Jamaica, she informed that the verification process involves persons taking in a certified copy of the skills certificate, a certified copy of the biodata page of their passport, three passport-sized pictures, and completing a simple information-gathering form at the Ministry.

“Once that is done, I will contact the member state. Once it is verified, then we will give you a letter to take to the immigration department where you will be given an unconditional stamp,” she explained.

For more information, please contact: Ministry of Labour and Social Security 1F North Street Kingston. Phone: (876) 922-9500-14; Email: prunit@mlss.gov.jm
Website: mlss.gov.jm.

Source: https://jis.gov.jm/apply-for-skills-certificate-at-labour-ministry-only/