Tuesday, January 06, 2015 | 7:59 PM
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Remittance inflows from the Jamaica-Canada Employment Programme contributed Cdn$15.5 million (approximately $1.7 billion) to the Jamaican economy during 2014.
Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier, who made the disclosure, noted that the programme, a vital source of foreign exchange remittances, “continues to be a beacon of hope and opportunity for thousands of Jamaicans.”
Kellier was speaking at a send-off ceremony for the first batch of farm workers for 2015, under the Ministry’s Overseas Employment Programme, held at the Overseas Employment Services Centre in Kingston, today (January 6).
Hefurther noted that during 2014, approximately 7,952 Jamaicans benefitted from employment opportunities in Canada.
“The farm work component accounted for 90 per cent (7,156) of this number, while the others travelled under the low skill and skilled worker programmes,” he said.
A total of 340 workers, selected under the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme departed the island today to take up employment opportunities on various farms in Ontario, Canada.
This batch of all males, most of whom will do eight-month stints, will be employed in greenhouse crop production, food processing, tobacco plants as well as nurseries which are involved in the cultivation of various vegetables. They will also be engaged in packaging tobacco and fruits for shipment.
The Minister noted that 20 per cent of the workers are new employees, while the remainder are ‘returnees’ or requested workers, noting that “this is a testament to the hard and dedicated work provided by Jamaican workers abroad.”
The Minister reminded the workers that the Overseas Employment Family Services Unit will continue to focus on the welfare of their families through a range of social interventions, including household visits, referrals for assistance, care for the sick and injured, care of children and self-empowerment programmes.
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Jamaica/Canada employment programme pumps J$1.7 b in economy -- Kellier
