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Jamaica |
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Overview |
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| Jamaica’s
labour force is made up of around 1.13 million workers (1998).
Approximately 60% of these workers are in the services sector, 21% are
in agriculture and 19% in industry. Key economic sectors include mining
(bauxite), manufacturing and tourism.
Responsibility for Occupational Safety and Health falls among the Ministry of Health (MOH), the MOL, and to a lesser extent the Ministry of Agriculture. The Environmental Control Division of the MOH administers the Public Health Act. Under this Act the Environmental Control Division is responsible for Occupational Health (OH) including the implementation of regulations and monitoring compliance to these regulations. Division inspectors conduct workplace inspections and provide training courses in environmental health. The Industrial Safety Division (ISD) of the MOL also carries out workplace inspections. The ISD administers the Factories Act, 1943. Its policy is to "promote and maintain a high standard of Occupational Safety and Health Protection to all workers in Jamaica through regular inspections, audits and other outreach programmes." The ISD provides guidance on occupational health and safety matters, investigates industrial accidents and inspects factories on a regular basis. Officers also monitor noise, temperature and other environmental parameters in workplaces. The Mining and Geology Department of the Ministry of Agriculture carries out mine inspections. Other national authorities, such as, the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), the Mines and Quarries Division and the Pesticides Control Authority also carry out workplace inspections. The National Insurance Section of Social Security Division reviews and pays employment injury claims Occupational health programmes are carried out by the umbrella organisation for Jamaica’s Labour Unions. Also, the Jamaican Association of Safety Professionals hosts annual OSH conferences and seminars. OSH training programmes are also offered by the Department of Community Health and Psychiatry of the University of the West Indies. The Mines and Geology Division, Ministry of Mining and Energy carries out programmes on the promotion of occupational health and the prevention of occupational injuries. The Ministry of Mining and Energy has also recently launched a Petroleum Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will ensure safety in the handling and transportation of petroleum products. |
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Labour Statistics |
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Occupational Health and Safety Statistics |
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Key * Details not available **Data not available. Source: Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Sports Division - Industrial Safety Division and Ministry of Agriculture and Mining-Mining and Geology Division.
See also: Data
on Workers' Health for Latin American and the Caribbean - Jamaica
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The earliest OSH legislation is the Jamaica Factories Law of 1943, which was amended, codified and renamed the Factories Act in 1973. There are three sets of Regulations under the Factory Act namely the Factories Regulations, 1961; the Building Operations and Work of Engineering Construction (S.H.W.) Regulations 1968 and the Docks Regulations 1968. Other laws relevant to OSH include the Labour Officers (Powers) Act, 1943; Public Health Act, 1974; Mining Act, 1975; Quarries Control Act, 1985; Pesticides Act, 1987 and the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act, 1991. There is also a Draft Occupational Safety and Health Act, jointly produced by the Jamaican Ministry of Labour (MOL) and the ILO. Key features of this legislation include its applicability to all places of work (not just factories) and its emphasis on the joint responsibility system where employers and workers share responsibility for OSH. ILO, OSH related conventions ratified by Jamaica include: |
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Related Agencies and Links |
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| Ministry of Labour Industrial Safety Division CIS National Centre 1F North Street P.O. Box 481, KINGSTON 1F (+1 809) 92-29500-14 The Mines
and Geology Division |
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