Jamaica charts the future of work with new National Employment Policy

KINGSTON, Jamaica (ILO News) - On 2 September 2025, Government leaders, employers, trade unions, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) convened virtually to inaugurate the Tripartite National Employment Policy (NEP) Steering Committee. This event, jointly organized by Jamaica’s Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, signalled a decisive move to reshape Jamaica’s employment landscape amid global shifts in technology, demographics, and the future of work.

Sharika Hemmings-Allison, Chief Technical Director at the OPM, opened the meeting emphasizing the critical role of collective action in shaping Jamaica’s employment future. The session featured opening remarks from key figures: Ambassador Dr. Rocky Meade, Permanent Secretary, OPM; Mrs. Dione Jennings, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Security; Mr. Joni Musabayana, Director, ILO DWT and Office for the Caribbean; Mr. Emil Leiba, Vice President, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Wayne Chen, President, Jamaica Employers’ Federation; and Ms. Tricia Phillips, Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions.

Speakers highlighted Jamaica’s labour market achievements, including declining unemployment rates and leadership in ratifying pioneering international labour conventions, despite operating without a formal national policy until now. They also acknowledged persisting challenges, such as youth unemployment, skills mismatches, informality, gender and disability inclusion, wage disparities, and the rising impact of artificial intelligence.

Mrs. Dione Jennings elaborated on the urgent need for the NEP amid Jamaica’s complex labour environment, shaped by the aforementioned issues. “The need for such a policy has never been more urgent. This framework will define roles, responsibilities, and strategic directions for employment in Jamaica,” she emphasised.

Ambassador Meade drew attention to the importance of grounding the NEP in shared principles so that it serves as both a cultural and ethical guide beyond being a policy document. “We want a document anchored in principles that we all agree on, a living framework that strengthens Jamaica’s broader policy network,” he said, underscoring that the NEP should embody a shared vision of decent work that protects workers, empowers employers, and strengthens Jamaica’s place in the global economy.

Strategic framework and policy development phases

The strategic framework for the NEP, closely aligned with Jamaica’s Vision 2030 and the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda pillars, addresses employment creation, rights at work, social protection, and social dialogue. The NEP development unfolds in four phases:

1. Inception Phase (Dec 2024 – Mar 2025): Established the steering committee, developed the work plan, and organized capacity-building workshops with ILO’s support.
2. Diagnosis Phase (Apr – Dec 2025): Includes gender-responsive employment diagnostics, sectoral analyses in tourism and renewable energy, just transition and green employment studies, and extensive stakeholder consultations.
3. Formulation Phase (Jan – Jul 2026): Focuses on prioritizing key issues through consultative workshops, drafting the policy document and governance framework, and submitting the Green Paper for Cabinet’s approval.
4. Validation Phase (Jul – Dec 2026): Comprises public consultations, final endorsement by the steering committee, and Cabinet’s approval of the White Paper.

Policy objectives and principles

The NEP aims to enhance employability and labour market inclusion, tackle inequalities affecting youth, women, and persons with disabilities, strengthen governance and labour administration, and align labour migration programmes with national priorities. Central to its design is a dynamic, multi-stakeholder framework capable of adapting to rapid economic and technological changes. Guiding principles include promoting decent work, ensuring inclusion and non-discrimination, supporting lifelong learning and skills development, and embedding continuous social dialogue. The NEP will complement existing legislation and sector strategies while remaining a living, flexible document responsive to change.

Social partnership at the core

Social partners emphasized that the NEP’s success depends on broad participation and shared responsibility. From the private sector, Mr. Emil Leiba stressed that economic growth must rest on innovation and empowerment. “Growth must be anchored in productivity, innovation, and empowering people through sustainable employment,” he declared.

Mr. Wayne Chen added a cautionary note: “Let this committee not produce a document that sits on a shelf. We must be timely, adaptable, and lobby Government to act decisively.”

Representing workers, Tricia Phillips underscored employment’s human dimension: “Employment is about dignity, security, and opportunity. This policy must deliver measurable outcomes that improve lives.”

Evidence-based approach and global guidance

Speaking to the need for an evidence-based, coherent framework linking employment with productivity and strong institutions, ILO’s Director Mr. Joni Musabayana explained, “this policy is a toolbox facilitating pathways for decent jobs, enhanced productivity, and stronger labour institutions in an integrated manner.”

The ILO's Employment and Labour Market Specialist, Abdelmalik Muhummed, presented both regional and global experiences on developing NEPs. He stressed that a comprehensive NEP requires comprehensive diagnostics embedded in robust dialogue. To this effect, he reiterated the ILO's commitment to support the NEP Steering Committee in undertaking a comprehensive diagnostic which will examine the interplay of economic, sectoral and labour market policies. The ILO will also commission specialized thematic studies looking at gender-responsive employment analysis to better understand the poor working conditions of the tourism sector and barriers to women finding employment in the renewable energy sector. Several other studies on non-standard forms of work (which jobs that are different from traditional, full-time or permanent jobs) and the impact of climate change will inform the diagnostics.

Mr. Muhummed emphasized that Jamaica’s success in advancing the NEP will depend on ensuring the policy has strong foundations: a clear implementation framework, a well-resourced action plan, and an effective governance mechanism for coordination and oversight. He underscored that when policies are built with clear objectives, coherent interventions, robust social dialogue, and adequate institutional capacity, they create stronger linkages across economic, sectoral, and labour market systems—maximizing their impact and sustainability. The ILO's International Labour Standards Specialist, Mr. Shingo Miyake, highlighted Jamaica’s ratification of Convention No. 122 on Employment Policy and its complementary Recommendation No. 122, stressing that successful implementation depends on strong social dialogue, institutional capacity, and policy coordination. Consultant Richard Horne presented on the NEP diagnostics, outlining a methodology combining quantitative labour market data with qualitative stakeholder consultations, focusing on productivity, migration, digital and green employment, and informal work. He emphasized the importance of improved access to microdata, supported by a proposed data facilitation subcommittee.

Shared vision for Jamaica’s employment future

Looking ahead, the NEP is envisioned as a living, adaptable instrument and unifying framework that integrates employment into national development plans and aligns with the Decent Work Country Programme. In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Meade encouraged participants to maintain a long-term focus: “Let us envision the ideal labour relations of a developed democracy and work stepwise toward it, considering all perspectives at the table.”

The National Employment Policy is Jamaica’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and innovative labour market where every citizen can work with dignity and contribute meaningfully to national development.