United Nations Jamaica 76th Anniversary

ILO Partnerships Tackle Labour Market Inequalities for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient COVID-19 Recovery For almost 60 years, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has collaborated with the Government of Jamaica (GOJ), employers’ organizations, trade unions and others to foster socio-economic progress for workers and employers. Now, in the context of COVID-19, the specialized United Nations agency is building on that legacy for a human-centered recovery that leaves no one behind. KEY NATIONAL PARTNERS: » Jamaica Household Workers’ Union (JHWU) » Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) » Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) » Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) » Ministry of Finance and Public Service (MoF&PS) » Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) » Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) » University of the West Indies (UWI) » Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) These three recent ILO partnerships are making a difference. The Jamaica Formalization Project AT A GLANCE: » The ILO estimates that 43 per cent of Jamaica’s economy operates informally, leaving many people to face poverty without income security and social protection. » Informal workers and operators in household services, agriculture and fisheries are among the most at risk who have been hard hit by COVID-19 lockdowns. » The Project is a landmark ILO-funded partnership with multiple stakeholders including the MLSS, MIIC, JBDC and JHWU. » It aims to build the socio- economic resilience of hundreds of domestic workers, farmers and fisherfolk through entrepreneurship and skills training, and integration in official social protection systems. » Through legislative and policy development and capacity building of staff within partner Ministries, the project is also facilitating the necessary frameworks for formalization in these largely informal sectors. WHAT PARTNERS ARE SAYING: “The collaboration between the Jamaica Household Workers’ Union and the ILO has been invaluable. Their practical support in developing a strong Business Plan and Curriculum for our soon to be launched Training Institute provides critical impetus as we seek to ultimately up skill our members as well the more than 58,000 household workers throughout Jamaica. This will enable household workers to advance their earning capacity and consequently take better care of their families. Practical partnership in action!” Shirley Pryce OD, JP. President, JHWU “Our ‘Agriculture & Fisheries is Big Business’ and ‘Beyond Crop & Catch’ campaigns seek to transform the mindsets and day- to-day operations of our farmers and fisherfolk so that they treat the industry as a business that requires them to think long-term. We are pleased to partner with the ILO through the Jamaica Formalization Project, which connects with our campaigns to advance enterprise formalization and capacity development. Participants will benefit from training in business and product development as well as enterprise structuring for improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.” Harold Davis Deputy CEO, JBDC Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour AT A GLANCE: » In 2015 Jamaica joined the ILO-supported Regional Initiative, which seeks to make Latin America and the Caribbean the first region in the world to eliminate child labour by 2025. » Through the Initiative, Jamaica is partnering with ILO and regional peers to improve national capacity in labour inspection with the aim of improving the enforcement of labour laws and contributing to the reduction and elimination of child labour. Domestic workers gather to advocate for labour rights. Credit: JHWU Dennis Zulu Director, ILO Decent Work Team & Office for the Caribbean CONTINUES ON PAGE 9 THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN JAMAICA 8