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Government
Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Jamaica
The Labour Division of the Ministry commenced operations in 1938 as an Employment Bureau. The Bureau was the first official response to growing unemployment, which was spreading throughout Jamaica during that period.
The relationship between employer and employee at the time was one of master and servant. This gave rise to grave economic disparities within the population as most persons received low wages and had poor living and working conditions.
In response to a need for social programmes, which catered to all sections of the population, a planning team was established in the Ministry of Labour to develop a social security scheme. The Ministry obtained technical assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO) to develop proposals for this scheme. The National Insurance Scheme Act was passed in 1965 and became effective April 4, 1966. When the Scheme was established, it incorporated the Sugar Workers’ Pension Scheme.
The Social Security Division of the Ministry evolved from this as programmes were added to address the needs of vulnerable groups within the society.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is still concerned with matters affecting individuals in their capacity as workers, employers and members of the country’s labour force. These matters include industrial safety, employment promotion, providing a source of income for workers who are injured on the job, and retirement benefits.
Labour Division
The main responsibilities of the Labour Division of the Ministry are administered through the following sections :Industrial Relations, Manpower Services and Occupational Safety and Health.
Social Security Division
The work of the Division is carried out through the following programmes:- PATH and Public Assistance, Administration of the National Insurance Scheme; Programmes for persons with disabilities and Senior Citizens.
Jamaica Liaison Service
The Jamaican Liaison Service is the agency established by the Ministry of Labour (Government of Jamaica) under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal government of Canada and the government of Jamaica charged with the responsibility of administering the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme in Canada.
In executing this responsibility, our mandate is to work in close association with all Federal, Provincial and NGOs to facilitate the general welfare of all Agricultural workers from Jamaica to Canada. This Service is also involved with recruitment of Skilled and Unskilled workers under the Temporary Foreign Workers Project.
The service provided is not limited to Ontario as we seek opportunities to serve other provinces with quality workers and a reliable workforce wherever the need arises.
We are not limited to the Agricultural Sector, but in addition we provide workers both in the Skilled and Unskilled Sectors of any industry.
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