News Detail

MEDIA RELEASE
MLSS PR Unit November 23, 2021

More Jamaicans are Embracing Flexible Work Arrangements

labour ministry with coat of arms

Public Relations Unit

1F North Street, Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-5484

Fax: (876) 948-2831

Friday, November 12, 2021

 

More Jamaicans are Embracing Flexible Work

 

 

Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Zavia Mayne said that there is a paradigm shift in the mindset of employees in Jamaica. According to Minister Mayne, more and more Jamaicans are of the view that Flexible Work Arrangements increases their ability to be more productive, provides a greater balance between work and personal responsibilities, while offering opportunities for them to complete tasks at their own convenience.

Minister Mayne said this paradigm shift was reflected in a Jamaica Productivity Centre survey that was conducted recently and is critical to the country’s growth and development. He said if Jamaica is to remain globally competitive, then it will require a change in approach and mindset by all the stakeholders from the various disciplines and industries.

He also disclosed that the Government, through the Jamaica Productivity Centre is developing a Policy Framework, to heighten productivity awareness among schools and organizations, as the global market place becomes more competitive. Minister Mayne explained that this productivity awareness campaign, will be broad-based across individuals, enterprises and the national levels.

Minister Mayne also pointed out that the impact of the pandemic has been devastating on the labour market. However, the Ministry through the JPC is taking steps to ensure that the current and

future labour force, will be equipped with the skills needed to be competitive, innovative and productive.

In this regard, he said the Jamaica Productivity Centre will be embarking on a number of initiatives to broaden Productivity awareness in Jamaica. These include:

  • the launch of Productivity Clubs and competitions at the Primary, Secondary and tertiary levels;
  • the development of an App to support mental wellness among employees:
  • development of a comprehensive waste management system
  • facilitating Productivity in the Curriculum of Skills Development and
  • Strengthening of partnerships among MIND, HEART TRUST/NSTA, The Hugh Lawson Shearer Labour Studies Institute and the University of the West Indies Department of Economics.

Minister Mayne was speaking at the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) Quarterly Forum on the Theme: ‘Productivity, Covid-19 and Human Capital Development’ in Kingston on Thursday.

Panellists and presenters at the Jamaica Productivity Centres’ Productivity Forum paused for our lenses. Mrs. Novelette Denton Prince, Managing Director (Acting) of the HEART/NSTA Trust (Back l), Mrs. Tamar Nelson, Chief Technical Director, Jamaica Productivity Centre (Back c), Dr. Tamika Benjamin, National Mathematics Coordinator/Tertiary Support Officer at the Ministry of Education Youth and Information, (Back r), Mr. Vando Palmer, Director of Public Relations and Communications, MLSS (l), Mrs. LaSonja Harrison, President Elect, Jamaica Teachers’ Association (1st l), Mr. Dervan Malcolm, Moderator (c), Ms. Brittany Johnson, Research Officer, Technical Assistance Services Unit, Jamaica Productivity Centre (1st r) and Mr. Dominic Summers, President, iCreate Institute (r).

 

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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