Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica: National response to the COVID-19 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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
• n 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 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica Workplace Safety and Health

MLSS/ Ministry of Health and Wellness joint action. Public education campaigns to prevent workplace spread

Evasive Action (Week 1)

MLSS Public Service Advisories (Employers and Workers) MHW Ongoing Press Briefings on testing & new cases Social Distancing and Sanitization messaging Workplace treated as priority- one of the most important spaces for public gathering.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica Workplace Safety and Health

Evasive Action (Week 1)

MLSS Public service Advisories (Employers and Workers)

• All employers and workers must comply

with MHW guidelines in respect

• f

COVID-19

• Workers who are ill or are required to be

quarantined must stay away from the 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

• ther

creative and innovative possibilities

COVID-19 Pandemic:

CHALLENGES

• Labour legislation not specific to

pandemic conditions

• Employers and workers concerned

about economic fall-out/ job security

• Public Behaviour change, workers

and clients compliance with social distancing

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

• Disaster Risk Management Act used for

national response. No specific work-from- home guidelines/ law

• 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

messaging encouraging non- discrimination of persons presenting with similar symptoms (clients and workers). Social responsibility

• f

employers to provide for safety of clients and workers

COVID-19 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica Safety and Health, Productivity, Job Security and Social Protection

Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Health and Wellness led interventions.

Evasive Action (Week 2)

• 1. Non-essential workers encouraged to work from

home as far as practicable.

• 2. Expanded definition of essential workers include

supermarkets, gas stations (Disaster Risk Management Act)

• 3. Labour intensive industries experience significant

downturn in business from overseas US, UK, Canada and Europe (hotels, attractions, transport)

• 4. Focus on PPEs for key workers including health

workers, ports of entry, police officers

• 5. Community quarantine in Bull Bay (affects business

and workers living in that community)

• 6. All island school closure and restrictions for public

passenger vehicles (presents challenges for attendance at work)

• 7. Mandatory quarantine of all international travellers

(workers returning from int’l travel are either absent from work or forced to work-from-home)

COVID-19 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica Safety and Health, Productivity, Job Security and Social Protection Office

• f

the Prime Minister and Ministry

• f Health and Wellness

led interventions.

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. 2. Own account workers experience low/ no business (barbers, hairdressers, domestic workers). Informal sector hard hit (including small restaurants, unregistered transport

• perators, retailers)

3. Social Protection services provided to quarantined communities Bull Bay and Corn Piece, sanitation and food packages provided (4000+ beneficiaries). Elderly, disabled, children from vulnerable families provided with care

• packages. Incentive provided to low income and key workers.
• 4. Strengthened border control and gradual flight restrictions

(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

COVID-19 Pandemic: Preserving Decent Work in Jamaica Safety and Health, Productivity, Job Security and Social Protection Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry

• f Health and Wellness

led interventions.

Evasive Action (Week 4)

• 1. Employers

revolutionizing business processes using technology. Other non-core business

• pportunities
• explored. J. Wray and Nephew rums also making line of

sanitizers. 2. SME’s giving to the national effort, manufacturing masks etc Conducting client facing services by appointment to

• bserve

the Disaster Risk Management limitation

• n

gatherings (10 persons) 3.

MLSS modified business process by use of technology (employers, workers and representatives access labour services electronically through email, websites, regular

• ffice

telephones, CUGs, hotlines and WhatsApp connections)

• 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:

6.

Impact of national curfew and other restrictions on

• peration of businesses including pubs, night clubs,

and attractions

7.

Impact on migrant work programmes (H2A, H2B and J1) with the United States Canada and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

8.

Impact of the Spending Stimulus programme on own 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

• ther 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