Jamaica all set to expand the Overseas Employment Programme

Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica Karl Samuda had pledged that during the Overseas Employment Programme, he would be growing 30,000 people for employment in the next 4 years. 

Every Jamaican participates in the programme led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, during which 7000 Jamaicans participates on H-2A (Agricultural) and H-2B (Hospitality) visas. The rest 6000 Jamaicans get places in some U.S. private employment agencies. 

Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica Karl Samuda said that they had recognized the transformative power of the programme in the lives of participants, their families and their communities. So, they want to aggressively grow the programme from 13,000 to 30,000 participants over the next four years. However, as they would be doing so, they might ensure that their workers had the necessary protections.

Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica Karl 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 about the expansion of the programme, as well as the provision of Health Insurance for H-2A Agricultural workers.

Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica Karl Samuda, while concluding, said that the meetings had been successful and they would continue to pursue their dialogue with the U.S. government. They have been committed to the ongoing mutually beneficial programme. Importantly, they had also agreed to review some of the regulations, especially as they relate to the provision of Insurance for their workers.

Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica Karl Samuda also had a meeting with Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, as well as Jamaicans in the diaspora, who had committed to playing their part in helping the expansion of the programme.

Ambassador Audrey Marks has been the permanent representative of Jamaica in the Organisation of American States. Audrey assumed the chair of the OAS Inter- American Council for Integral Development for the coming 6 months.

Ambassador Audrey Marks being OAS Inter- American Council for Integral Development, would be mainly focusing on increasing the cooperation among the Member of States and to enhance their integral development, and the primary efforts have to be put on eliminating the extreme poverty.