News Categories: Media Release

Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Monday, August 9, 2021

Samuda Expresses Shock of Violent Attack on Farm Worker

Labour and Social Security Minister, Karl Samuda is expressing shock, regret and condemnation of a violent attack on a Jamaican farm worker in Canada.

According to Minister Samuda, the alleged attack on the Jamaican farm worker has come as a big surprise, at a time when the Ministry is intensifying efforts to capitalize on every opportunity to increase the numbers annually.

Minister Samuda said the Ministry has reached out to both parties to provide the requisite support.

He is also appealing to all farm workers not to use violence as a mean of settling disputes, but instead should utilize all the available channels including the Jamaican Liaison Services provided to each farm worker by the Ministry.

He said while he is shocked to hear of the incident, it must be condemned in the strongest terms.

The Labour and Social Security Minister is also warning that violent acts will not be tolerated by the Ministry in any of its operations locally or overseas.

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
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Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Samuda Condemns Violence against Senior Citizens

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Karl Samuda is condemning the recent spate of violent attacks on senior citizens as an act of cowardice and insanity.

In the past week, the gruesome murder of 82-year old Dorris Gordon is but one of the reported incidents of violence against older persons recently.

According to Minister Samuda, at a time when senior citizens are most vulnerable and extremely concerned about their health and safety during this COVID-19 pandemic, the abuse being meted out to them must be condemned in the strongest terms. He said these brutal attacks on our senior citizens reflect a degree of senselessness in our society and question our commitment to the sanctity of life.

“Therefore, I call on my fellow Jamaicans to care for and protect senior citizens, who have toiled to build our nation and have a right, as all citizens of Jamaica, to safety and security. It is our duty.  We must enhance the development of a gentle and caring society,” Minister Samuda said.

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
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Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Fake News: Labour & Social Security Ministry Announces List of Persons To Receive Grants

The Ministry of Labour & Social Security, is dismissing as ‘Fake News’ a Social Media posting in circulation suggesting that there is a list of names of persons announced by the Ministry, who will receive ‘Government Grants’, valued at JA$150,000 to persons who have worked during the period 2010 to 2021.

There is no truth to this information. It is an internet scam.

Screenshot images with associated website links, bearing the Ministry’s branding and the details surround such grants, being propagated, is also false.

Members of the public are being asked to ignore any such communication received electronically or otherwise and to desist from sharing this information. The Ministry is encouraging persons to check and verify that any  information about its services is authentic before taking any action.

To learn more about eligibility or to apply for any of the grants offered under the Ministry of Labour & Social Security’s Social Programmes, contact the Public Relations Unit: (876) 967-5484, or send an email to: prunit@mlss.gov.jm or visit our website: www.mlss.gov.jm

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
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Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Samuda pledges to Grow Overseas Employment Programme

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda has pledged to grow the Overseas Employment Programme to 30,000 participants over the next four years.

Each year, approximately 7,000 Jamaicans participate in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security led programme on H-2A (Agricultural) and H-2B (Hospitality) visas. Another 6,000 Jamaicans are placed in the US by private employment agencies.

“We recognize the transformative power of this programme in the lives of participants, their families and their communities. So, we want to aggressively grow the programme from 13,000 to 30,000 participants over the next four years. However, as we do so, we must ensure that our workers have the necessary protections,” said Minister Samuda.

Minister Samuda met with officials from the Department of State, the Department of Labour and the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C on Wednesday, July 14 and discussed the expansion of the programme, as well as the provision of Health Insurance for H-2A Agricultural workers.

“The meetings have been successful and we will continue to dialogue with the US government. They are committed to this mutually beneficial programme and importantly, they have agreed to review some of the regulations especially as they relate to the provision of Insurance for our workers,” Minister Samuda concluded.

Minister Samuda also met with Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, as well as Jamaicans in the diaspora, who have committed to playing their part to facilitating the expansion of the programme.

Over the next two days, Minister Samuda will meet with potential employers in Washington, D.C and Miami, Florida.

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
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Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Monday, July 12, 2021

Samuda to Tour US Farms

Minister of Labour & Social Security, the Honourable Karl Samuda left the island on Monday, July 12, 2021 for a tour of Farms in the United States where Jamaican Farmworkers are employed.

Minister Samuda will use the visit to meet with current and prospective employers to promote the Overseas Employment Programme, as he seeks to strengthen the existing relationships and create new opportunities for expansion and improvement of the Programme. Minister Samuda will also meet with officials from the US Government. The last ministerial visit of this nature was in August 2018.

Despite the setbacks associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic, approximately 4,500 workers travelled on the Programme to the United States in 2020. Since January this year, 2,928 Jamaican Farmworkers have left the island for temporary employment on farms in the United States.

Minister Samuda is scheduled to return to the island on July 17, 2021.

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
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Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Samuda Appeals for World Leaders to Make Vaccines More Readily Available

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda, is appealing to World Leaders, to make vaccines more readily available, so that developing countries can recover faster from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Limited access to vaccines by developing countries such as Jamaica and others in the Caribbean, means that the pace of our economic recovery will be slower and the negative impact on our people will continue,” Samuda explained.

“Poorer countries like Jamaica are forced to use harsh non-vaccine measures to contain the spread of the virus. I am therefore calling on the World Leaders to work diligently to assist developing countries to improve access to vaccines,” Samuda said while speaking at the 109th session of the International Labour Organization Conference in Geneva today.

Minister Samuda said that, “despite the socio-economic challenges brought about by the pandemic, the government has been doing its part to assist business operators and the most vulnerable in the society to recover from the pandemic.”

“The government provided tax incentives to mitigate against the fallout, particularly to the micro, small and medium size entities, resulting in the return of $1 Billion to employers and $10 Billion was spent on implementing a social economic programme called the CARE programme,” Samuda added.

The Minister also stated that the government has been working on initiatives with the ILO’s Regional Office in Trinidad & Tobago to provide social protection and decent work for the people of Jamaica.

“Increase productivity will translate into higher profit for firms, higher wages for labour, higher revenue for government and lower cost for consumers.”

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
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Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Samuda Makes Plea for Productivity to be Prioritized across all Sectors

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Karl Samuda is making an impassioned plea for all Jamaicans to take productivity seriously, so that the country can become more efficient and have sustainable growth and development.

“Productivity is everybody’s business, therefore, we should all seek to prioritize productivity across all sectors, industries, firms and in our daily lives.”

“At the core of productivity is efficiency, and the more efficient we are with our labour, investments and natural resources, the more Jamaica can produce,” Samuda said during the World Productivity Day forum hosted by the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) under theme “National Pathway toward Resilient and Sustainable Productivity Improvement.”

His message was delivered by Collin Turner, Senior Director of Technical Assistance Service Unit at the JPC.

“We are at a pivotal point where we must actively seek to implement transformative initiatives to have long lasting productivity gains. The JPC will be exploring how to automate agro-processing to improve the quantity and quality of our agricultural products.”

He said that “agro-processing can improve agricultural productivity by reducing post-harvest losses, diversifying the rural economy, improving food security, providing employment opportunities among other things.”

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr Wayne Henry agrees with Minister Samuda and said that all is set to benefit if there is an increase in productivity in Jamaica.

“Increase productivity will translate into higher profit for firms, higher wages for labour, higher revenue for government and lower cost for consumers.”

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
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Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Friday, May 28, 2021

Ministry of Labour & Social Security Partners with WFP to Bring Relief to the Elderly

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has donated 11,339 Food packages and 30 tablets valued at just over a $US1.06M to the Government of Jamaica. The items which were handed over to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, forms part of the Government’s Covid 19 Care Programmeto assist vulnerable households and in particular the elderly.

Labour and Social Security Minister, Honorable Karl Samuda in expressing his appreciation said that the donation will enhance the Government’s effort to reduce the impact of Covid 19 on the food security of the most vulnerable. Minister Samuda explained that Jamaica is fighting to decrease infection rates within the county, with the elderly population being the most affected and more vulnerable to succumbing to the virus. One of the most crucial strategies for curbing the spread of COVID-19 is to stay at home. “I recognize that this is a challenge when one needs to go out in search of food, medicine and other necessities. The Ministry’s food distribution programme aim to meet the food and nutritional needs of our Senior Citizens and other vulnerable persons to ensure that we can keep them safe,” he said.

Meanwhile, WFP representative in Jamaica Ms Sara Netzer, said that regional findings across three CARICOM COVID-19 Food Security and Livelihoods Impact Survey, administered by WFP over the last year revealed significant job loss, increasing food prices and poorer food consumption overall. The impact has been felt more severely as time goes on, particularly for the poorest households.

Mr. Regis Chapman, Regional Representative for WFP in Barbados, pointed out that the provision of access to food as well as technical and logistical support is paramount during times of crisis; and the pandemic is no exception.

He explained, Jamaica has significant experience in using social protection in a disaster context. The Government and people of Jamaica are, therefore, in the prime position to further strengthen their response capacities through this partnership”.

This current partnership between the Ministry of Labour Social Security and WFP to support the national COVID-19 response, builds on key lessons learnt in the past, to navigate this unprecedented period in the nation’s history.

 Honourable Karl Samuda, (C)Minister of Labour & Social Security, along with Colette Roberts Risden, (R) Permanent Secretary and Miss Suzette Morris, (L) Director of Social Security received food items from Sara Netzer, (1st right) Programme Policy Officer of the World Food Programme to assist Senior Citizens.

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
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Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Labour Ministry Advises Employers To Follow Labour Laws & Disaster Risk Management Protocols

It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security that workers are concerned by memos purportedly issued by employers mandating that they be vaccinated or
otherwise be asked to resign.

While the Ministry of Health and Wellness is encouraging persons to be vaccinated against the Covid 19 virus, vaccination remains a personal choice.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is therefore advising workers to refer to the Labour Division any action taken by an employer against them that may be deemed prejudicial to their
reluctance to being vaccinated.

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
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Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Samuda Express Great Sadness at the Passing of Jamaica’s Supercentenarian, Stephen Wright

Minister of Labour & Social Security, Karl Samuda said he is saddened at the passing of Jamaica’s oldest supercentenarian, Stephen Wright. Mr. Wright died peacefully at his home in Sanguinette, Clarendon on Saturday, April 3, 2021. According to Minister Samuda, Jamaica is blessed to have another supercentenarian attaining the age of 115 years after our longest living centenarian in the world, Violet Mosse-Brown who died in 2017 at the age of 117 years old and created history for Jamaica.

Mr. Wright was an ardent Christian who lived a selfless life and served his community well. He worked in the capacity of a District Constable in the earlier years of his career. He also travelled to the United States as a farm worker and was a veteran who fought in World War 11. His family members recalled him as one who loved people especially children and throughout his life he was generous. He has always accredited his longevity to Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth.”

He was born on August 24, 1905 in St. Elizabeth to parents Estella Simpson-Wright and David Wright. He was the first of twenty (20) siblings of which two brothers and a sister is alive. He was married to Alvira McDonald and their union produced nine (9) children of which two predeceased him and seven are alive, his wife predeceased him in 1992. A supercentenarian is a person who has reached the age of 110 years or older.

“The Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s, National Council for Senior Citizens salutes an extraordinary citizen and commends his contribution to nation building. We extend sincere condolences to his family, friends and community,” Minister Samuda says.

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
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