Context

The Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) has been an active and important partner in the efforts to reduce informality in the national economy in Jamaica. The Organization was also a key contributor in the development of the “Jamaica Transition to Formality Action Plan 2021- 2025” (JTFAP) which involved tripartite national partners, and which focused attention on the household services, agriculture and fisheries sectors.

The ILO Project, “Support for the Transition to formality in the household services, agriculture and fisheries sectors in Jamaica”, was developed in the context of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing the devastating impact of the unfolding crisis on vulnerable workers in largely informal arrangements in the three aforementioned sectors. The intent was to assist national collaborating partners to initiate priority interventions within the JTFAP, generating momentum for the implementation of the national action plan, according to the roles and commitments of the various national stakeholders and actors.

Among the expressed policy objectives of the action plan is the need “to increase compliance with labour laws for the benefit of… [workers in the target sectors]”. Therefore, in keeping with the strategies developed to accomplish this objective, the ILO support Project includes a component which aims to increase the institutional capacity of employer and business membership organizations, and in particular, to improve the technical and negotiation capacity of JEF on topics/ issues relevant to national formalization processes.

The JEF has identified the OSH Bill and NIDS Bill as relevant and priority items on the current national legislative agenda and has agreed to collaborate with the ILO to organize and host a series of virtual seminars on these topics, as part of technical capacity building of its executive and staff, and for information and education of its membership.

Objective

The JEF, with support from the ILO, will organize and host two virtual thematic seminars in November on:

1. Understanding the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2017 (the OSH Bill); and
2. Tax Administration: Compliance and Demonstration of Online Capabilities

These aim to:

• Equip JEF Executives and officer with information and understanding on key topics in national formalization processes that will enhance their representation and negotiation capacity in social dialogue interventions
• Increase participants knowledge and increase compliance with labour laws for the benefit of employers and workers in the various sectors.

Expected results

• No. of JEF Executives and Officers with improved understanding of the proposed legislation and increased capacity to support education of members and other actions for compliance with labour laws.
• At least 100 employers in Jamaica (JEF members and other stakeholders) with improved understanding of the legislation and capacity to take independent action towards compliance with national labour laws