The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is 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. 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 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. The Office of the Prime Minister on the Laws and Regulation Website).
The Ministry of Labour & Social Security, through the Labour Division provides and supervises a range of policies and programmes to facilitate employment opportunities both locally and overseas. Children are regarded as more vulnerable members of our society. They deserve special attention in order to facilitate their growth and development. Consequently, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has implemented several special programmes to promote their well-being from birth to maturity. NIS is a compulsory contributory funded social security scheme, which offers financial protection to the worker and his family against the loss of income arising from an injury on job, incapacity, retirement, and death of the insured.
The Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) is a conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme funded by the Government of Jamaica and the World Bank and is aimed at delivering benefits by way of cash grants to the neediest and vulnerable in the society. The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities is the Government Agency responsible for the rehabilitation, vocational training and placement of persons with disabilities in Jamaica. Under the Ministry of Labour & Social Security, it has as its objective the Equality of Opportunities between the disabled and the able-bodied. It seeks through its services, to establish social and economic independence for Persons with Disabilities through their own efforts and labour. Meet the challenges of a growing, healthier and more active senior citizen population by ensuring that the senior citizens are able to meet their basic human needs, that those in need are assisted and that older persons are protected from abuse and violence and are treated as a resource and not a burden. Enhance the self-reliance and functional independence of the Senior Citizens to facilitate continued participation in their family and society.
Providing Opportunity, Stability & Social Protection
