Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Jamaica

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) (Ratification: 1962)
Labour Administration Convention, 1978 (No. 150) (Ratification: 1984)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of the ratified Conventions on labour administration and inspection, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 81 (labour inspection) and 150 (labour administration) together.

Labour inspection: Convention No. 81

Article 6 of the Convention. Status and conditions of service of the inspection staff. In reply to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that: (i) by way of Cabinet decision, a new body will be created to administer the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill, once approved; (ii) this body will be appropriately staffed with an increased number of OSH officers and support staff; (iii) a comprehensive organizational development will be conducted in order to inform the staffing arrangements for the creation of the new OSH body; (iv) the OSH Bill will include transitional provisions to facilitate the seamless incorporation of OSH officers into the new statutory body, without loss of benefits; (iv) the OSH Bill will ensure stability of employment of inspection staff; and (v) the compensation of OSH officers will be commensurate to categories of public officers that have similar roles and responsibilities in the public service. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts in the adoption of the OSH Bill and to ensure that it contains provisions giving effect to Article 6 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in this respect. The Committee once again requests the Government toprovide information on the measures adopted in order to guarantee that the conditions of service of labour inspectors, including their levels of remuneration and tenure of employment, are similar to those of other public officials with responsibilities of a similar category and complexity.

Article 14. Notification of cases of occupational diseases. In reply to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that the labour inspectorate and officers of the National Insurance Scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security have periodically conducted sensitization activities with employers and workers to encourage them to report occupational diseases and apply for Employee Injury Benefit Claims, as set out in the schedule of the National Insurance (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations, 1970. In addition, a new information management system has been implemented for the National Insurance Scheme with a module that is used to capture reported cases of occupational diseases and process claims by the Employment Injury Department. The Government adds that there were no cases of occupational diseases reported to the Ministry for the period 2021–2023. Noting once again that no cases of occupational diseases have been reported for several years, the Committee request the Government to continue to provide information on the measures adopted in order to ensure that cases of occupational diseases are reported to the labour inspectorate, including information on the new management system and its impact in the application of Article 14.

Articles 20 and 21. Annual report on the work of the inspection services. The Committee notes once again that no annual inspection report has been received by the Office and that the last labour inspection report available on the website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is the one for 2017–2018. The Committee further notes that the Government’s report contains information concerning the items listed in Article 21(a)–(g) of the Convention. The Committee also notes that the Statistical Bulletin of the MLSS, which is published annually, contains information on the number of factories registered and the number of persons employed therein, the number of inspections conducted, and the number of occupational accidents reported. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts for the preparation, publication and transmission to the ILO of the annual labour inspection report, as required by Article 20, and containing the information on all subjects covered by Article 21.

Labour a dministration : Convention No. 150

Article 5 of the Convention. Consultation, cooperation and negotiation between the public authorities and employers’ and workers’ organizations. In reply to the Committee’s previous request, the Government refers to the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC), which includes a member from the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions and from the Jamaica Employers Federation. The MWC conducts regional consultations with stakeholders in relation to the minimum wage adjustment. Discussions on this topic also occur in the Labour Advisory Council. While taking note of this information, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on other existingarrangements for consultations, cooperation and negotiations between public authorities and employers’ and workers’ organizations, for example on areas concerning occupational safety and health, labour relations, and social security. The Committee requests the Government to provide examples of measures taken as a result of the effective consultation with the social partners.

Article 10. Number, status, conditions of service and training of the staff of the labour administration system. In reply to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that there are currently 114 persons employed in the labour administration system in Jamaica, 86 with a permanent contract and 28 temporarily employed. The Government indicates that the Industrial Relations Unit conducted 7 training sessions during the reporting period, including on topics related to labour inspection techniques, labour laws and labour inspections in relation to child labour and trafficking. An average of 30 officers are trained during each session. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

Application in practice. The Committee takes notes of the Government’s reference to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security statistical bulletin published annually and of the detailed information on the work of the Ministry contained therein.