Jamaica designates its tripartite Labour Advisory Council as national focal point for the promotion of the ILO MNE Declaration
Jamaica is the first country in the Americas region to appoint a national focal point for the promotion of the MNE Declaration and the application of its principles and is the first country to appoint a tripartite social institution as a unique national focal point.
In February 2019, Jamaica appointed its tripartite Labour Advisory Council (LAC) as national focal point for the promotion of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles on Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) and the application of its principles. The LAC was established some 30 years ago and plays as a tripartite body of the government, employers and workers a pivotal part in the country’s labour market activity, investment promotion and overall economic and social planning. The LAC is chaired by the Minister with responsibility for labour and comprises other members of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, representing the Government; the Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF); and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), representing workers Jamaica is the first country in the Americas region to appoint a national focal point for the promotion of the MNE Declaration, and the sixth country to do so globally, after Côte d’Ivoire, Norway, Portugal, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
Jamaica is also the first country to designate an existing tripartite social dialogue institution as a unique national focal point. The country took guidance from the annex II to the MNE Declaration presenting the operational tools adopted by the ILO Governing Body to stimulate the uptake of the principles of the MNE Declaration, which encourages national constituents – governments, employers and workers – “to appoint national focal points on a tripartite basis (taking guidance from the Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144)) to promote the use of the MNE Declaration and its principles, whenever appropriate and meaningful in the national context.”
The appointment of the LAC as the national focal point for the promotion of the MNE Declaration and the application of its principles in Jamaica reflect the long standing interest of the country and its tripartite constituents in the MNE Declaration as a guidance tool to address a number of issues in Jamaica’s current socio-economic context. In 2014, a country-level dialogue on the role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in enhancing employment and national development opportunities was held in Kingston with the technical assistance of the ILO. It discussed the relevance of the MNE Declaration for Jamaica and shared concrete examples of practical application of its principles. This national level dialogue was followed by roundtable discussions organized with representatives of the hotel and tourism industry in Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, where the need to look at procurement practices of MNEs in the sector was highlighted to stimulate more linkages with the local economy.
At the request of constituents, the ILO commissioned two studies in 2015, to assess existing and potential linkages between MNEs in the tourism sector and local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). A policy brief was prepared in 2017 as an input for further dialogue amongst tripartite constituents, providing guidance on roles for government and the social partners to bringing about the necessary changes in the procurement practices of MNEs operating in the hotel and tourism industry.
The ILO facilitated in 2017 a second tripartite country-level dialogue on the labour dimension of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with enterprises from the hotel and hospitality industry. The event was followed by dialogues with hoteliers in Kingston and in the three hotel resort areas of Ocho Rios, during which the crucial role of social dialogue and the relevance of the MNE Declaration to promote the creation of more and better jobs in the hotels and in their supply chains was reconfirmed.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security subsequently requested ILO technical assistance with a view to strengthening its national focal point to perform its role in promoting the MNE Declaration. Representatives from Jamaica participated in the training course “Multinational enterprises, development and decent work: the approach of the MNE Declaration” in the International Training Center of the ILO (Turin, May 2019). This course served to further strengthen LAC’s understanding of the MNE declaration and provide guidance on how a national action plan for the MNE Focal Point in Jamaica could be developed.
To kick off the promotional activities of the national focal point, specific initiatives are being scheduled including a forum to further sensitise MNEs in Jamaica on Jamaican labour laws and to create a space for dialogue and discussions on matters affecting workers and MNEs.
The ILO is assisting governments, employers and workers from around the world to build their capacity on putting into practice the MNE Declaration and its principles in the national context. The MNE Declaration is the only ILO instrument that provides direct guidance to enterprises, governments and social partners on social policy and inclusive, responsible and sustainable workplace practices. It is the only global instrument in this area that was elaborated and adopted by governments, employers and workers from around the world, most recently updated in 2017.
Jamaica is also the first country to designate an existing tripartite social dialogue institution as a unique national focal point. The country took guidance from the annex II to the MNE Declaration presenting the operational tools adopted by the ILO Governing Body to stimulate the uptake of the principles of the MNE Declaration, which encourages national constituents – governments, employers and workers – “to appoint national focal points on a tripartite basis (taking guidance from the Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144)) to promote the use of the MNE Declaration and its principles, whenever appropriate and meaningful in the national context.”
The appointment of the LAC as the national focal point for the promotion of the MNE Declaration and the application of its principles in Jamaica reflect the long standing interest of the country and its tripartite constituents in the MNE Declaration as a guidance tool to address a number of issues in Jamaica’s current socio-economic context. In 2014, a country-level dialogue on the role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in enhancing employment and national development opportunities was held in Kingston with the technical assistance of the ILO. It discussed the relevance of the MNE Declaration for Jamaica and shared concrete examples of practical application of its principles. This national level dialogue was followed by roundtable discussions organized with representatives of the hotel and tourism industry in Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, where the need to look at procurement practices of MNEs in the sector was highlighted to stimulate more linkages with the local economy.
At the request of constituents, the ILO commissioned two studies in 2015, to assess existing and potential linkages between MNEs in the tourism sector and local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). A policy brief was prepared in 2017 as an input for further dialogue amongst tripartite constituents, providing guidance on roles for government and the social partners to bringing about the necessary changes in the procurement practices of MNEs operating in the hotel and tourism industry.
The ILO facilitated in 2017 a second tripartite country-level dialogue on the labour dimension of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with enterprises from the hotel and hospitality industry. The event was followed by dialogues with hoteliers in Kingston and in the three hotel resort areas of Ocho Rios, during which the crucial role of social dialogue and the relevance of the MNE Declaration to promote the creation of more and better jobs in the hotels and in their supply chains was reconfirmed.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security subsequently requested ILO technical assistance with a view to strengthening its national focal point to perform its role in promoting the MNE Declaration. Representatives from Jamaica participated in the training course “Multinational enterprises, development and decent work: the approach of the MNE Declaration” in the International Training Center of the ILO (Turin, May 2019). This course served to further strengthen LAC’s understanding of the MNE declaration and provide guidance on how a national action plan for the MNE Focal Point in Jamaica could be developed.
To kick off the promotional activities of the national focal point, specific initiatives are being scheduled including a forum to further sensitise MNEs in Jamaica on Jamaican labour laws and to create a space for dialogue and discussions on matters affecting workers and MNEs.
The ILO is assisting governments, employers and workers from around the world to build their capacity on putting into practice the MNE Declaration and its principles in the national context. The MNE Declaration is the only ILO instrument that provides direct guidance to enterprises, governments and social partners on social policy and inclusive, responsible and sustainable workplace practices. It is the only global instrument in this area that was elaborated and adopted by governments, employers and workers from around the world, most recently updated in 2017.