Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica: National response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Jamaica: COVID-19 Status Confirmed Cases - 58 Recovered Cases - 8 Deaths - 3* *persons had underlying medical conditions First Case confirmed – March 10, 2020 (visitor from the United Kingdom). 30 Imported Cases, and 20 Import-related cases. Local transmission monitored. Source: Ministry of Health and Wellness – April 5, 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica • Workplace Safety and Health • Productivity • Fair Income • Job Security • Social Protection • Gender Equity • Social Dialogue
COVID-19 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica Preliminary Activities (Internal Preparation) • MLSS participation in national disaster planning (led by Prime Minister) • Social Dialogue (Tripartite Labour Advisory Committee) consensus on public messaging • Internal Ministry safety and health audit and implementation of new sanitation protocols • General Staff sensitization led by Permanent Secretaries and Department/ Unit level preparation (Safety and remote working protocols)
COVID-19 Evasive Action (Week 1) Pandemic: Workplace treated as priority- one of the Preserving MLSS Public most important Service Decent Work in spaces for public Advisories Jamaica gathering. (Employers and Workers) MHW Ongoing Workplace Safety Press and Health Briefings on testing & new cases MLSS/ Ministry of Health and Wellness Social joint action. Public Distancing education campaigns and to prevent workplace Sanitization spread messaging
Evasive Action (Week 1) COVID-19 Pandemic: MLSS Public service Advisories Preserving (Employers and Decent Work in Workers) Jamaica All employers and workers must comply • with MHW guidelines in respect of COVID-19 Workplace Workers who are ill or are required to be • Safety and quarantined must stay away from the Health workplace Employers to provide the required sick • leave and time for quarantine with pay as far as possible, even above law Employers and workers encouraged to • explore work from home and other creative and innovative possibilities
COVID-19 Pandemic: CHALLENGES AFFIRMATIVE ACTION • Labour legislation not specific to • Disaster Risk Management Act used for pandemic conditions national response. No specific work-from- home guidelines/ law • Employers and workers concerned about economic fall-out/ job security • Employers and workers encouraged to exercise flexibility including work-from- home, staff rotation, reduction in hours, review of tasks, remote client services to address income and job security concerns • Public Behaviour change, workers • Public messaging encouraging non- and clients compliance with social discrimination of persons presenting with distancing similar symptoms (clients and workers). Social responsibility of employers to provide for safety of clients and workers
Evasive Action (Week 2) COVID-19 1. Non-essential workers encouraged to work from Pandemic: home as far as practicable. Preserving 2. Expanded definition of essential workers include Decent Work in supermarkets, gas stations (Disaster Risk Jamaica Management Act) 3. Labour intensive industries experience significant downturn in business from overseas US, UK, Canada Safety and and Europe (hotels, attractions, transport) Health, 4. Focus on PPEs for key workers including health Productivity, Job workers, ports of entry, police officers Security and 5. Community quarantine in Bull Bay (affects business and workers living in that community) Social Protection 6. All island school closure and restrictions for public passenger vehicles (presents challenges for Office of the Prime attendance at work) Minister and Ministry of 7. Mandatory quarantine of all international travellers Health and Wellness led (workers returning from int’l travel are either absent interventions. from work or forced to work-from-home)
Evasive Action (Week 3) 1. Lay-offs commenced in large labour intensive organizations (approx. 5000 persons laid off). MLSS encourages BPOs, manufacturing, retail sectors and SMEs to explore creative and innovative ways to continue producing/ offering services. COVID-19 Pandemic: 2. Own account workers experience low/ no business (barbers, Preserving Decent hairdressers, domestic workers). Informal sector hard hit Work in Jamaica (including small restaurants, unregistered transport operators, retailers) Safety and Health, 3. Social Protection services provided to quarantined Productivity, Job Security and Social communities Bull Bay and Corn Piece, sanitation and food Protection packages provided (4000+ beneficiaries). Elderly, disabled, children from vulnerable families provided with care Office of the Prime packages. Incentive provided to low income and key workers. Minister and Ministry of Health and Wellness 4. Strengthened border control and gradual flight restrictions led interventions. (some worker had difficulty returning to work given flight and 14 day quarantine) 5. Minister of Finance announces $10 B financial stimulus package for employers affected by COVID-19, laid of worker, and expanded social assistance for the needy, MLSS participation required
Evasive Action (Week 4) 1. Employers revolutionizing business processes using technology. Other non-core business opportunities explored. J. Wray and Nephew rums also making line of sanitizers. 2. SME’s giving to the national effort, manufacturing masks COVID-19 Pandemic: etc Preserving Decent Conducting client facing services by appointment to Work in Jamaica observe the Disaster Risk Management limitation on gatherings (10 persons) Safety and Health, Productivity, Job 3 . MLSS modified business process by use of technology Security and Social (employers, workers and representatives access labour Protection services electronically through email, websites, regular Office of the Prime office telephones, CUGs, hotlines and WhatsApp Minister and Ministry connections) of Health and Wellness led interventions. 4. Dispute resolution meetings by telephone and apps including ZOOM and Teams 5. New MLSS and Ministry of Health approved protocols implemented in industries including BPOs (temperature checks and sanitation requirements)
COVID-19 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica Required research: 1. Impact on youth employment, rural workers and women 2. Implication for job descriptions and original employment contract (many companies have experienced greater efficiency) 3. Legislative strengthening for continuation of flexible work arrangements, handling pandemics and general safety and health in the workplace
COVID-19 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica Required research: 4. National and regional economic recovery strategies 5. Social and psychological impact on employers, workers and their families
COVID-19 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica Required research: Impact of national curfew and other restrictions on 6. operation of businesses including pubs, night clubs, and attractions Impact on migrant work programmes (H2A, H2B and 7. J1) with the United States Canada and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Impact of the Spending Stimulus programme on own 8. account workers including domestic workers and other persons operating in the informal sector
Social Protection Registered Businesses and Tax Compliant individuals
SET CASH
BEST CASH
SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
TOURISM GRANTS
Social Assistance Stimulus for Businesses transitioned to Formal Sector by April 30, 2020
GENERAL GRANT
Social Assistance Support for informal sector, unemployed and other vulnerable groups: Compassionate Grants • PATH Grants • Student Loan Relief • Ministry direct assistance for small farmers, • elderly, homeless, and other vulnerable groups
The future of work in Jamaica is no longer a distant phenomenon but is now our reality.
COVID-19 has hasten movement the to cash-less transactions, remote working, artificial intelligence, changes in business processes, increased focus on safety and health in the workplace and greater efficiency in service delivery and production of goods. We are experiencing a new age and will be required to play catch-up with labour standards
THE END THANK YOU
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