The Global Jobs Pact: Guiding Principles and Implementation at

the Country Level

Paper Presented byProfessor Neville Ying

At theCaribbean Development Bank – International Labour Organization (ILO) Tripartite Symposium Addressing the Effects of the Global

Economic Crisis on Labour Markets in the Caribbean and preparing for Sustainable and Decent Employment: The Role of

the Global Jobs Pact

At theLloyd Erskine Sandiford Conference Centre, Barbados

January 26, 2011

This paper incorporates the views of the author and does not represent the official views of the country. The author was a member of the Drafting Committee at the ILO

Conference, Geneva, June 2009 for preparing the Global Jobs Pact document, and a

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member of the National Partnership for Transformation Council and its Working Committee for Job Creation and Employment.

The Global Jobs Pact: Guiding Principles and Implementation at

the Country Level

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Overview

There is a single word that embodies the impact of the global financial crisis. It is JOBS. In response to this situation The Global Jobs Pact was developed and promoted internationally by the ILO placing emphasis on both recession recovery and opportunities and challenges in the post recession period.

The major challenge for developing countries such as Jamaica to implement the Global Jobs Pact is fiscal space. A related dilemma is whether to focus first on economic growth or job creation and employment. This is a chicken and egg situation for which creative strategies are needed. In consideration of these challenges the anatomy of the Global Jobs Pact embodies guiding principles foremost of which is policy coherence and synchronization of financing. This principle in particular invites the coordinated support of International Financial Institutions such as the IMF, World Bank and IDB as well as developed countries such as those in the G8 and G20 groups to assist developing and vulnerable economies such as Jamaica to work their way out of the crisis. The other principles emphasize the important elements of the Decent Work Agenda and Sustainable Business Enterprises for the creation of the social, economic and environmental climate for providing jobs and a social protection floor for employees. A fundamental requirement for the successful implementation of the Global Jobs Pact is the concerted action of all stakeholders to develop and implement mitigation strategies to deal effectively with the impact of the global financial crisis – important players among these being the major social partners - government, trade unions, employers and civil society. The challenge and opportunity will be to build social capital with its important ingredients of trust, cooperation, team spirit and teamwork to make the solutions we design in response to this crisis work.

This presentation will address the major principles of the Global Jobs Pact and approaches that should be considered to implement it at the country level, for dealing effectively with the global financial crisis. This will be done with particular reference to Jamaica. Indications will also be provided for a sample of initiatives taken or contemplated to enable each principle to be translated into practical actions. A more detailed discussion of these

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elements can be found in the Paper entitled Global Jobs Pact: Anatomy to action for recession recovery and beyond.The approaches are presented in a context of social and economic problems that need to be addressed urgently to make the Global Jobs Pact a reality. In Jamaica, three major problems to be addressed are the restricted fiscal space due to the high level of public debt; the high level of crime; and high level of unemployment. In relation to the latter, there have been significant job losses in Jamaica since the recession.

“The contraction observed in the Jamaican economy over the period 2008 - 2009 has had a negative impact on the level of employment as the domestic and global demand declined. Since the start of global crisis in October 2008 there has been a net decline of 86,600 persons in the labour force.”i

Reported redundancies to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MOLSS) 2008- 2010 ii showed that the sectors that were most severely affected in terms of displaced workers were mining with the closure of major bauxite companies, agriculture , primarily the sugar and banana industries, and hotel services.

There is also the important issue of unemployment of youth especially in inner-city communities that needs to be addressed with urgency.

“26% of (young adults) between the age of 20-24 are unemployed.38% of young adults living in the inner-city are unemployed.The national unemployment rate is 11.6%.”iii

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GLOBAL JOBS PACT: PRINCIPLES AND IMPLEMENTATION AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL

I. Policy coherence, synchronized Financing and Sustainability

PrincipleThere should be a coordinated and synchronized international programme of assistance involving collaboration, partnerships and strategic alliances. The main actors in this process should be countries in the G8 and G20 groups together with international financial institutions and multilateral agencies. Emphasis should be given to assistance to developing and vulnerable countries.

Closely related to Policy coherence and synchronized Financing is the principle of Sustainability in the Global Jobs Pact. This principle requires that:Strategies for working through this crisis should simultaneously deal with recovery as well as laying the foundation for post-crisis opportunities and threats.

Implementation ApproachThere should be a close and collaborative working relationship between the developing country seeking financial assistance and blocks of countries such as G20 and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India China) countries and Multilateral and International Financial Institutions – IMF, World Bank, IDB. This should be done to secure a coordinated response for financial support. This support should be utilized to facilitate the implementation of a set of nationally integrated set of policies related to economic growth, job creation, employment and social protection.

As a starting point at the country level there should be national consensus on a combination of priorities for tackling the global financial crisis. This combination should incorporate in an integrated

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manner the use of the three pillars: social, economic and environment.

This integrated approach is critical for enabling the operation of sustainable business enterprises in general and the practice of corporate social responsibility in particular, both of which are essential ingredients for effective and sustained job creation and employment.

There should also be collaboration across and among government agencies and ministries in the development and implementation of policies and actions for crisis recovery. Some critical areas for this collaborative approach are: Energy, Food Security, Crime and violence, Youth employment, Creative Industries, and Diaspora Affairs.

Strategies and initiatives developed for dealing with the recession should incorporate the four strategic objectives of the ILO Declaration on Social justice for a fair Globalization: employment, social protection, labour standards and social dialogue. In addition, these objectives should follow the IIMS principle which means that they are Inseparable, Interrelated and Mutually Supportive (IIMS).iv

Membership in the ILO should also be leveraged for two primary reasons.First, the ILO can assist through its influence on major developed countries and the policy directions of international financial institutions and multilateral agencies. Its effort at getting buy in from these entities for the principles and strategies of the global jobs pact should be capitalized on to get a coordinated programme of assistance that can address economic, social and environmental problems in recovery from this crisis.

Second, its long and impressive history and performance in Social Dialogue can assist in building a sustainable structure and mechanism for national consensus on development policies and actions.

Initiatives

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Actions related to the principles Policy coherence synchronized Financing and Sustainability in Jamaica have focused on Creating an Enabling Environment for Economic and Social

Development through two major initiatives: National Partnership for Transformation (PFT) and Synchronized Financing

National Partnership for Transformation (PFT)

The Partnership for Transformation (PFT) Council in Jamaica is essentially a tripartite group and includes government, employers, trade unions, academia and civil society representatives. Its efforts are focused on establishing an integrated set of national development strategies. This is being done through six priority areas which form the framework for deliberations aimed at consensus on policies, enabling legislation and coordinated actions for economic growth, jobs and social development. These priority areas are:

Law and Order Fiscal and Monetary Performance Tax Policy/Tax Administration Education and Training Job Creation and Employment Trust among Partners

Synchronized financingA Standby Agreement has been established with the IMF for US$ 1.27 billion over a 27 month period v for balance of payment support. Significant complementary funding has also been secured from the IDB. In the case of the IDB there is a commitment of over US$ 600 million policy based loans for the Fiscal Consolidated Programme over the two-year period of the IMF Agreement.

“Specific areas of interest include the strengthening of fiscal discipline and accountability, reduction of the public debt/GDP ratio and the development of economic growth and development in the Jamaican Economy.” vi

There has also been multilateral and bilateral funding support for a range of special projects covering areas such as social protection,

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community development and infrastructure development. This has been provided from a variety of sources including the World Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), USAID, DFID, China, Japan, Czech Republic, India, Venezuelavii and the European Union.

There was also a successful Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX) initiative which has contributed to the lowering of interest rates.

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II. Jobs at the Centre of Recovery Strategies

PrincipleJob Creation and Employment should be at the centre of the strategic response to the financial crisis.

Implementation ApproachThe design and implementation of effective strategies for job creation and employment is a balancing act. There needs to be simultaneous creation of jobs immediately and in the short term as well as infrastructure and investment initiatives that will create jobs and employment on a sustained basis in the medium and long term. This balancing act requires consideration of both the human dimension as well as economic growth to drive the creation of jobs. In relation to the human dimension, it is important that there are initiatives for creating jobs immediately and in the short term to create confidence, hope, trust and support for long term strategies. So, for instance, the construction of roads and financial and technical assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) has the potential for creating jobs immediately and in the short term. But, at the same time, there needs to be focus on investment and infrastructure developments, such as those related to the Hotel, ICT, and Agri-Business industries, which will have the potential for medium and long term sustainable job creation and employment.

In Jamaica, Infrastructure Development and the development and support for MSMEs should be special areas of emphasis for Job Creation and Employment. Infrastructure development will drive both investments as well as job creation.

“Investing in the country’s infrastructure would help to attract further investments into the economy because it would lead to an improvement in the country’s absorptive capacity, which is vital to the mobilization and marginal efficiency of investments. It would also help to drive recovery and job creation in the construction and installation sectors, which employs 80,000 to 100,000 persons at full capacity”viii

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With respect to MSMEs emphasis on the Creative Industries, Sports, Music, Entertainment and Fashion and the incorporation of ICTS will be of critical importance.

Agri- Business is important to deal with investments as well as social problems such as urban rural drift as well as job creation.

“Investments in agri-processing would facilitate integrated rural development and lead to a reduction of urban/ rural migration and crime...” ix

Special attention should also be paid to employment opportunities for young persons particularly those in the age group 16- 29.

In this balancing act for job creation and employment: mega investment projects, training for employability, labour market reform and the consideration of vulnerable groups in communities should be considered in an integrated manner. This approach is consistent with the IIMS principle and the principle of policy coherence under the Global Jobs Pact. Therefore, implementation of the principle of jobs at the centre of recovery strategies at the country level requires a mix of job creation and employment strategies.

The implementation of this mix of strategies will require effective and planned linkage to the programme for synchronized financing so that investment and trade and infrastructure development can contribute simultaneously to economic growth, business development and job creation and increased employment. Public- private partnerships will be an imperative in this process.

Mix of Job Creation and Employment Strategies Some major components of this mix are:a. Catalytic and mega projects and investment in infrastructure as

well as research and development. These should be aimed at generating a wide range of decent jobs from low level to high level skills.

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b. Emphasis on micro, small and medium sized enterprises and the development of rural communities, and urban depressed and vulnerable communities.

c. Attention to jobs related to Migration as well as the local job market.Recession resistant jobs in large economies such as the USA in which over 50 % of the Jamaican Diaspora reside should be a useful guide for areas of emphasis for training for local and overseas employment. Some areas which come to the fore are professionals, para professionals and persons with specialized skills in Healthcare, ICT and Hospitality.The major benefit from overseas employment is contribution to remittances and local investment. For Jamaica, Remittances average close to US$2billion over the last three years.

d. Labour Market ReformLabour Market reform should have two areas of emphasis:

i. Adherence to International Labour Standards in the formulation and implementation of recovery strategies.

ii. Focusing on the timely and speedy enactment of legislation that will facilitate job creation and employment and mitigation of job losses. Examples of these are legislation related to Flexible Work arrangements and Unemployment Insurance.

e. Skills Training for Employability and Improved ProductivityThere should be focus on skills training for employability and improved productivity consistent with the principle of sustainability. This means that skills training should be geared at job creation and employability during the financial crisis as well as in the post recession period. It is therefore important that there is a combined and collaborative effort of formal and specialized education, training and development institutions in both the public and private sectors. In Jamaica for instance, this means that there should be combined and collaborative efforts to provide education and training for employability and improved productivity. This should involve institutions and agencies such as:

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HEART TRUST/NTA, which is the national training agency which focuses on skills training in specific technical vocational areas

Secondary Schools which focuses on Secondary Education certification

The Jamaica Business Development Centre, which focuses on support for micro, small, and medium business enterprises

The Foundation of Lifelong Learning, which focuses on literacy and numeracy

The Jamaica Productivity Centre, which focuses on interventions for improving productivity in the private and public sectors

Tertiary Level Institutions, such as universities and colleges for higher level technical and professional competencies.

The following groups should be targeted for Skills Training:a. Persons in jobs who need re-skilling and retoolingb. Displaced workers who need skills for transitioning to self

employment or other areas of employment opportunitiesc. Persons entering the job marketd. Unemployed and at risk young personse. Persons seeking employment opportunities in targeted areas

overseas.

Initiatives

1. Catalytic and mega projectsThe major initiatives in this category in Jamaica that are likely to generate jobs include major investment projects, such as the Caymanas Development, Falmouth Port Development, and Downtown Kingston Redevelopment. In terms of job creation and employment most of these are medium to long-term over the next five years.x

1.1. Caymanas Development “This project is in the planning stage and involves developing the Caymanas Designated Area, which

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straddles the parishes of St. Andrew and St. Catherine, with at least 90% of its lands in St. Catherine. The objective is to develop a new urbanist town involving new residential communities, new light industrial complexes, schools, commercial and business parks and the complementary recreational facilities.This will include a residential block consisting of 1500 housing solutions targeting the low-middle income earners, the middle income earners and the high income earners.”xi

1.2 Falmouth – Port Development“The Ports Authority of Jamaica and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Limited have collaborated to create a new cruise ship pier on the North Coast of Jamaica nestled in the historic town of Falmouth, Trelawny as one of the Caribbean’s premier cruise ship ports. It is envisaged that a thematic village will be created, featuring restored historical buildings and matching new architecture in a managed guest experience. Significant effort is also be placed on community empowerment and training to equip residents to take advantage of investment opportunities.

Estimates for “Phase 1” including the port development and early development works in the town stands at approximately JA$17 Billion.

Estimates by Royal Caribbean projects that 300 people would/ will be directly employed by the port development. Increased employment is envisaged in the town as a result of the increased commerce expected from cruise ship arrivals.Preliminary conservative estimate, project retail potential of at least JA$500M monthly (from tourist spend) when the port is up and running at full capacity.

The port development commenced from 2009 with practical completion estimated by March 2011.”xii

1.3 Market District Re-Development

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The market district redevelopment is one of the projects under the Downtown Kingston Redevelopment with “estimated value of J$1.2 billion and involves a wide range of activity geared towards providing improved conditions, additional shops and proper management of commercial activity within the market district.

Job types related to this project will primarily comprise construction workers and labourers. The build out of the district serve to not only improve the conditions merchants, and will also facilitate expansion in the number of small merchants in the market district.The first phase, which includes renovation to the Coronation Market has already commenced since October 2010, and is expected to be developed over 2 - 3 years.”xiii

2. Major Public and private sector projects for the Construction of Roads and Houses.

In terms of job creation and employment these range from short to medium and long-term over the next five years.A significant project in this category is the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) for the improvement of Jamaica’s road network. “It is a five-year project which will cost US$465million and create some 6,700 jobs. JDIP is a partnership between the Governments of Jamaica and China and is being undertaken through a loan from the Export/Import Bank of China. The government is also partnering with the Chinese in the Palisadoes Shoreline Protection and Rehabilitation Works Project financed by a US$65.3 million loan from the China EXIM Bank”xiv There are also other infrastructure rehabilitation projects. One of these is the widening of the Washington Boulevard in Kingston through a project for US$23.4 million funded by the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank. Another is a $230 million project funded by the IDB for shoreline protection works in Roselle St Thomas.xv

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In the area of Housing, projects for 3,454 housing solutions by the Housing Agency of Jamaica are expected to commence in early 2011.xvi

3. Emphasis on Micro Small and medium sized Business The micro small and medium sized businesses are seen as critical in terms of job creation and employment in Jamaica. “A study by the Private Sector Development Programme indicated that micro, small and medium enterprises are indeed driving the economy through job creation providing 80 per cent of the island’s new employment opportunities and opening up new doors for growth in the economy.”xvii

In 2010 more than J$2billion in financing to micro and small enterprises helped a number of persons to start up businesses and boost productivity.One major Financial Institution indicated that businesses that benefitted from loans it provided to this sector have created some 27,000 jobs in 2009.xviii

The Jamaica Business Development Centre has assisted micro small and medium sized business enterprises through a loan programme, with the following results:Since disbursement began in January 2009, 102 clients were approved for loan funding to a value of J$157, 128,110 as at November 2010. This generated employment for 521 persons

4. Focus on depressed and vulnerable communities and personsa. Community Renewal Programme

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is coordinating a Community Renewal Programme.The programme is targeting 100 volatile communities in 5 parishes with three important objectives:

Building self-reliance and responsible citizenship Enhancing capacity of Youth Promoting peace and stability in communitiesxix

b. Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE)

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A Private Sector led coalition through the Private sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) has embarked on a J$874 million Programme, Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE) targeted to young people, in the age group 16-29, in inner-city communities to begin in January 2011. This programme is a response to sustained levels of antisocial behaviors, crime and violence and high levels of unemployment among youth in the inner-city communities. It represents a critical component of the Community Renewal Programme.Two of the critical targets of this 21/2 year YUTE programme

are: 1026 persons in full or part-time work, and 107 persons in sustainable enterprises.The programme involves a multi-stakeholder approach in its investment, financing and implementation.Of the $874 million: 43% is the value placed on long-term jobs and short-term

work experience to be provided by the private sector; 20% will be through access to existing Government of

Jamaica programmes through HEART/NTA and credit for micro and small enterprises

26% in cash from private companies, multilateral and bilateral aid agencies;

11% in kind from private corporations and Jamaicans at home and overseas.xx

“The Programme is designed to ultimately offer some 2750 youths the opportunity to gain work experience, full-time employment internships and the chance to develop entrepreneurial skills.”It is expected that at least 1,295 of these young persons will be in permanent jobs after two –years xxi

c. Special Youth Employment and Training (SYEAT) ProjectThe Special Youth Employment and Training (SYEAT) Project is a short- term labour market intervention programme aimed at:

o promoting employment, skills training and overall development of youth

o contributing to the national goal of job creation and employment; and

o providing decent and productive work.

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The project was developed in 2008, and targets 10,000 persons ages 18- 25 over 4 years, i.e. 2500 per year. These persons should have gained minimal CXC qualifications and are either skilled/unskilled with no formal training/certification. The Agencies involved in the project are the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), HEART/ NTA, the National Skills Training Agency and the Jamaica Foundation for Life Long Learning (JFLL) a national agency focusing on literacy and numeracy.

To date, there are 3,957 persons registered with:320 Trainees placed in Employment in 55 participating

Companies. xxii

d. Youth Empowerment Strategy (YES) ProjectThe Youth Empowerment Strategy (YES) Project is operated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security with the following objectives:

- To offer a greater level of independence to youths deemed ‘at risk’ by providing financial assistance to increase educational opportunities or carry out entrepreneurial pursuits in certain pre-determined disciplines.

- To provide assistance to 300 ‘At risk’ Youths ages 16-30 Years for the year 2010/11.

To date, 206 persons have been assisted with funds totaling J$6.7m for education and training and income generating activities in areas such as farming, cosmetology and information technology.xxiii

e. Inner City Basic Services for the PoorThe objective of the project is to improve the quality of life in 12 inner city communities and poor urban informal settlements through improvement of access to basic urban infrastructure, financial services, land tenure regularization, and enhanced public safety and community capacity. The funding agency for this US$ 32.8 million project is the World Bank. xxiv

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5. Attention to jobs related to Migration as well as the local job marketa. The objectives of the overseas employment programme

administered by the MLSS (Ministry of Labour and Social Security) are:

To provide employment opportunities for skilled/unskilled Jamaicans in the overseas labour market.

Expand the overseas employment programme to have 14,500 persons placed in job opportunities.

In relation to these objectives, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has placed 10,000 persons in job opportunities overseas in 2010.xxv

In addition, some professionals in different fields continue to be recruited by overseas firms or migrate through their own initiative.

6. Labour Market ReformThe main focus of the Labour Market Reform is on creating enabling legislation. Progress is being made towards amending laws that will facilitate the effective implementation of flexible work arrangements and establishing the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. Parliament has recently approved amendments to the Minimum Wage Act including a higher level of fines for breaches by employers.

7. Skills Training for Employability and Improved ProductivityIn addition to the normal education and training in Secondary and Tertiary level institutions there are some special initiatives related to especially MSMES, Productivity Improvement, Overseas Employment and Youth Employment. These include:

7.1 Business Skills Training for WomenA training programme for 300 women in SMEs to improve their business skills and increase access to finance was conducted in 2010. This was done through a J$40million project jointly funded by the IDB/MIF and funds raised by the Women Business Owners Limited.xxvi

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7.2The Jamaica Business Development Centre has assisted micro small and medium sized business enterprises through Business advisory services, and Technical services with the following results:

a. Business Advisory Services436 clients were assisted with business advice and consultations over the April to November 30, 2010 period. From these interventions additional employment is expected to be generated.

b. Technical servicesApproximately 780 clients were assisted with technical services over the April 1 to October 31, 2010 period. Technical services include brand management, graphic design, sourcing of equipment, patternmaking and product development.xxvii

7.3 Jamaica Productivity Centre Initiatives The Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) has developed several initiatives that have contributed to a better understanding of productivity. Since January 2009 the team has worked with over 44 different firms within the public and private sector offering customized solution methodologies geared at raising their productivity. Some of the areas covered during these interventions include Benchmarking, Strategic planning, Identifying and eliminating waste, Process Mapping, Energy Conservation and Change Management.xxviii Some of the successful initiatives of the initiatives employed by the JPC are shown below.

i. “As a result of JPC focusing on issues such as, waste reduction, process improvement two private sector companies have achieved combined savings of US$2.5M per annum.

ii. Another imitative aimed at addressing Jamaica’s productivity issues is the establishment of sectoral sub-committees. The first sub-committee to be

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formed is the manufacturing sub-committee. The objectives of this sub-committee is to enhance profitability, competitiveness and job security of the workforce within the Manufacturing Sector by:

a. Promoting a culture of productivity within the sectorb. Enhancing the productivity profile of entities within the sector through productivity improvement initiatives, andc. Measuring productivity at the level of firms, industries as well as the sector.

iii. Another major activity for the Centre is training sessions. Training sessions have been conducted in the areas such as customer service improvement, waste management, process mapping, and energy productivity.

Productivity interventions undertaken by the Centre include Productivity audits, energy productivity, business process reengineering, customer service training, production scheduling, factory layout, inventory control and scheduling, time management sessions, waste management workshops, leadership development, strategic planning, process mapping and general productivity awareness sessions.”xxix

iv. There has also been special training for placement in the overseas employment programme by the MLSS.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is collaborating with training institutions locally and overseas to provide certification of workers This includes providing training and red seal certification for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Resident Care Attendants (RCAs), Dental

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Hygienists (DHs) and autoworkers , as well as training and certification of workers in hospitality, agriculture and other skill areas.

v. There are Special Initiatives for Training related to Youth Employment led by the MLSS. These include:

a. Special Youth Employment and Training (SYEAT) ProjectUnder this project to date: 1699 persons have been trained in Employability Skills including Level1 Certification of HEART/NTA.

b. STEPS to Work ProjectThe objective of this project is to wean beneficiaries of the Social Security programme, PATH (Programme for Advancement through Health and Education) into training, employment and entrepreneurship.This is a combined effort of MLSS, HEART/NTA, and JFLL. As at September 2010:

- 3062 persons benefitted from interventions

- 637 clients participated in the summer camps for at risk youths

- 547 clients referred to HEART/NTA - 257 participated in JFLL literacy

programme.xxx

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III. Centrality of Decent Work Agenda

PrincipleCrisis responses should be built by using the core pillars of the DECENT WORK AGENDA. Two important areas are:

a. Social Protection with at least a social protection floorb. Social dialogue for building consensus on recovery

strategies especially in situations of low trust among social partners

Social Protection

PrincipleEstablish at least a social protection floor. This relates to areas such as minimum wage, basic health, and pension benefits, and unemployment insurance benefits.

Implementation ApproachThe establishment of a meaningful and effective social protection programme, and at least a social protection floor, requires a number of integrative strategies.

The first strategy is increasing and expanding existing social security benefits and adding new areas of benefits as fiscal space would allow.Second is empowering persons through employability skills to enable them to be engaged in decent work.Third is providing persons with at least a minimum wage that can meet basic living standards. The use of the these strategies will have the combined effect of providing basic social security benefits to establish at least a social protection floor; having persons weaned from social security support

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and be in a position to be contributors to new social security benefits schemes, such as unemployment insurance.

Initiatives One major initiative for Social Protection in Jamaica continues to be the PATH. The Programme is aimed at delivering benefits by way of cash grants to the most needy and vulnerable in the society. The programme has also included skills training and job placements.

i PIOJ ( Planning Institute of Jamaica ) Economic Review comments , December 2010ii Data from Report on Redundancies, Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MOLSS) Jamaica, December, 2010iii Youth Upliftment through Employment ,YUTE, An Aggressive 21/2 year programmatic approach through a private sector led coalition, Executive Summary , Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) October 2010iv The IIMS Principle was enunciated by the ILO in the discussions of the Committee for the Recurrent Discussions on Employment at the ILO Conference, 99th session, Geneva, June, 2010.v Data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ)vi JIS Voice of Jamaica December29,2010, Vol.2 Issue 12, p.21vii Matrix of Projects with multilateral and bilateral support , PIOJ , December, 2010viii Ralston Hyman. More strategic investments needed to drive growth. In Jamaica Business Special Report, October –December, 2010 p7).ix Ralston Hyman More strategic investments needed to drive growth. In Jamaica Business Special Report, October –December, 2010 p7).x Information from the Urban Development Corporation, Jamaica , January, 2011xi Information from the Urban Development Corporation, Jamaica , January, 2011xii Information from the Urban Development Corporation, Jamaica , January, 2011xiii Information from the Urban Development Corporation, Jamaica , January, 2011xiv JIS Voice of Jamaica December29,2010, Vol.2 Issue 12, p7 &8xv JIS Voice of Jamaica December29,2010, Vol.2 Issue 12, p8xvi Daily Observer December 24, 2010 p.17xvii Comments in Small Business Boom: Sector driving economic growth, Article in JN Small Business Loans limited – 10th Anniversary Supplement, Sunday Gleaner , December 12, 2010xviii Comments in Small Business Boom: Sector driving economic growth, Article in JN Small Business Loans limited – 10th Anniversary Supplement, Sunday Gleaner , December 12, 2010xix PIOJ Matrix of Projects, December, 2010xx Youth Upliftment through Employment ,YUTE, An Aggressive 21/2 year programmatic approach through a private sector led coalition, Executive Summary , Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) October 2010xxi Article “YUTE holds promise for inner-city youngsters”Sunday Observer, December 12, 2010, page 12xxii Ministry of Labour and Social security Information, January, 2010xxiii Ministry of Labour and Social security Information, January, 2011xxiv PIOJ Matrix of Projects, December, 2010xxv Jobs Overseas despite Recession, JIS Voice of Jamaica December29,2010, Vol.2 Issue 12, p.17xxvi JIS Voice of Jamaica December29,2010, Vol.2 Issue 12, p.16xxvii JIS Voice of Jamaica December29,2010, Vol.2 Issue 12, p.16xxviii Information from Jamaica Productivity Centre, January, 2011xxix Information from Jamaica Productivity Centre, January, 2011

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The target group includes:- Children: from birth to completion of secondary

education: 262,301- Elderly: 60 years or over, and not in receipt of a pension:

60,000- Persons with Disabilities: 18,000- Poor Adults 18-59 years: 97,699

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has reported that:

“We have strengthened our Social Protection Floor by increasing benefits under the Programme for Advancement through Health and Education (PATH). This is a conditional cash transfer programme funded by the Government of Jamaica and the World Bank aimed at delivering benefits by way of cash grants to the most needy and vulnerable in the society. We have enhanced the programme by targeting adults in the PATH households through skills training and job placements, moving them from welfare to employment.”xxxi

The World Bank is a major contributor to this programme providing J$3.7 billion. This is complemented with funding from the IDB of J$ 105million,xxxii JS$215 million from Japan Social Development Fund in 2010 and budgetary allocation of J$45 billion by the MLSS in the financial year 2010/2011.xxxiii

Achievements to date:- J$632.429m have been paid to 239,624 children- 49,174 elderly persons have registered- 8146 persons with disability have registered

- J$229,074 have been paid to 74,383 adultsxxxiv

xxx Ministry of Labour and Social security Information, January, 2010xxxi Presentation by Minister of Labour and Social Security for the ILO Conference , 99th Session ,Geneva, June, 2010xxxii Ministry of Labour and Social security Information, January, 2010xxxiii JIS Voice of Jamaica December29,2010, Vol.2 Issue 12, p.17xxxiv Ministry of Labour and Social security Information, January, 2010

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In addition to this initiative, there have been periodical increases in existing social security benefits such as the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Social Dialogue

PrincipleUse Social dialogue for building consensus on recovery strategies especially in situations of low trust among social partners.

Implementation ApproachDevelop and maintain a National structure and mechanism for immediate and Sustained Social Dialogue - to get consensus, build and maintain trust, and motivate people to participate in radical changes required for effective response to the global financial crisis. Help should be sought periodically from the ILO to nurture this process consistent with their mandate from the Global Jobs Pact.

InitiativesThe Partnership For Transformation is the major social dialogue initiative in Jamaica currently. Deliberations are aimed at developing an integrated set of policies and strategies. These are done both at the Council level as well as through Working Teams for the different priority areas. These are law and order, fiscal and monetary performance, tax reform/tax administration, job creation and employment, education and training and trust among partners. The work of the group dealing with trust among partners is especially critical in this process since trust is the important glue and lubricant that keeps the social dialogue process alive and productive.

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CONCLUSION

As developing countries such as Jamaica work their way through the global financial crisis, restricted fiscal space will make the combined strategies of creating jobs immediately and well as in the medium and long-term challenging.

In this context there is need to find a dynamic working relationship between economic growth, job creation and increased employment. The Global Jobs Pact provides a model for doing this by focusing our efforts on establishing crisis responses as well as laying the foundation for capitalizing on post-crisis opportunities. Developing countries such as Jamaica should use the core principles of the Global Jobs to develop their own National Jobs Pact. In doing so, emphasis should be given to the principles of policy coherence, synchronized financing and sustainability. An important advantage of this approach is that strategies for Job Creation and Increased Employment for developing countries such as Jamaica will have resonance with powerful countries in the G8 and G20 and major International Financial Institutions whose coordinated effort and financial support will be needed to make these strategies work. But even with this support it is important to note that at the level of implementation of the Jobs Pact, coordinated policies and actions involving effective public-private partnerships are a prerequisite for success. Also very importantly, these strategies will have to built and sustained by national consensus, trust and sustained motivation. Sustained and meaningful Social Dialogue among the major social partners and civil society, a central aspect of the Global Jobs Pact, will therefore be a critical imperative.

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