Cabinet Approves National Employment Policy

• Cabinet has approved the development of a National Employment Policy by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to facilitate several modalities of worker engagement.
• Speaking during a recent Post-Cabinet Press Briefing, Minister without Portfolio in the OPM with Responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, said the policy “will also target youth who are not academically qualified but still trainable”.
• The Cabinet decision comes against the background of the cost associated with working individuals travelling long distances daily to get to urban centres such as the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA), where their jobs are located, which is often deemed unfeasible. It is also made in light of increased informal settlements in the KMA and other areas, due to migration.
• Consequent on these factors, it is anticipated that the policy will improve the employment rate in communities and curb increased engagement in informal industries.

(Sources: JIS)