KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaican authorities experiences {that a} complete of two,482 Jamaicans have traveled to the USA for employment between January and June this yr below the H-2A and H-2B visa applications.
Labour and Social Safety Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. advised a Jamaica Central Labour Organisation (JACLO) webinar that the determine represents 36 % of all Jamaicans who’ve secured abroad employment up to now this yr.
“For us, it’s not simply numbers. These are our sons, our daughters, our moms, our fathers, whose lives and communities are being reworked and impacted as a result of they’ve entry to significant work,” Charles mentioned.
He mentioned that the ministry continues to help contributors within the Abroad Employment Programme via abilities coaching, work readiness preparation, and the administration of a nationwide database of pre-screened staff.
“We reply swiftly to your wants as employers, and we additionally conduct pre-departure orientation, protecting labour rights, monetary literacy, and cultural expectations. Once more, that is one other factor in Jamaica’s effort to organize our candidates for the transition to this jurisdiction, the place we wish them to show themselves but additionally to signify Jamaica with excellence,” Charles mentioned.
He advised the webinar that liaison officers play a significant function in safeguarding the welfare of Jamaican staff abroad, serving to to resolve disputes, and making certain that each staff and employers are supported all through the employment interval.
“A lot of our employers can testify that our liaison officers change into their finest associates, as a result of they’re those whom they will depend on generally to speak, generally to know.
“Moreover, we’ve got additionally moved to have a kind of mentorship programme the place we pair the skilled staff with the newcomers, selling self-discipline, emotional preparedness, and simply getting them to be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” Charles mentioned.
Charles famous that whereas the H-2A (agricultural) program stays Jamaica’s flagship for abroad agrarian employment, the Jamaican authorities is actively working to increase entry to the H-2B (non-agricultural) program, which facilitates momentary non-agricultural work alternatives.
He mentioned that these people have contributed to the seasonal operations in states resembling Florida, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, and Colorado.
“This programme has created worthwhile alternatives, seeing many openings in hospitality, landscaping, development, janitorial companies, seafood processing, and amusement and recreation. We have now individuals who match the invoice for all of these classes. In 2024, over 12,000 Jamaicans have been employed via the H-2 B programme,” Charles mentioned.
“These staff proceed to shine of their roles, a few of them are cooks, housekeepers, drivers, bartenders, landscapers, and entrance desk brokers… they’re the face of hospitality in your jurisdiction.
“A lot of them include vital expertise from a rustic that depends on tourism and, due to this fact, we’ve got refined consultants right here who are usually not solely licensed however skilled most occasions earlier than they arrive,” Charles mentioned, including that as labour shortages proceed to have an effect on seasonal industries throughout the USA, Jamaica stays strategically positioned to reply.
“We’re nearshore, and by investing in employee readiness, increasing our expertise swimming pools [and] reinforcing moral recruitment, we’re making certain that our labour programmes stay agile, dependable and impactful and that we’re able to companion with you,” he mentioned.
