Overseas Employment To Be Expanded

Press Release From The OPM - September 11, 2026 The Government is focused on expanding opportunities for Jamaicans to access overseas employment while strengthening the country’s farm work programme, which this year marks 60 years of providing employment and improving the lives of workers and their families. Speaking on OPM On Air, Minister of Labour and Social Security, the Honourable Pearnel Charles Jr., said the Government is now focused on increasing the number of Jamaicans participating in overseas employment programmes in both Canada and the United States, particularly in agriculture and hospitality. Minister Charles Jr. stated that the contribution of Jamaican farm workers continues to be highly valued by overseas employers, while the programme has helped generations of families to improve their circumstances and provide educational opportunities for their children. The Minister said, “I had the opportunity to actually fly with 120 farm workers to Canada. And when we landed, one of the ministers, the Canadian ministers, greeted us at the airport.” The Minister noted that Jamaica has established a new Overseas Employment Management Board with expanded expertise to identify and negotiate new opportunities. There are currently approximately 9,000 Jamaican farm workers in Canada and about 6,000 workers in the United States in hospitality and agriculture through H2B and H2A programmes. Minister Charles Jr. said the Government is also taking a more proactive approach to ensuring that Jamaicans who want to participate are given an opportunity to build the skills required to qualify. Applicants who do not initially meet the literacy requirements can be referred to programmes to improve their literacy, while persons without sufficient agricultural experience can be sent to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority to gain the necessary skills before returning to the programme. “We're not going to send people away. We want to improve your life, want to improve your capacity, because ultimately, again, the goal must be more than just moving Jamaicans from Jamaica overseas to build up the agricultural sector overseas,” said Minister Charles. The usual age requirement is 21 to 45 for men and 21 to 40 for women, although employers may request different age ranges depending on their needs. The Minister said modern farm work extends well beyond traditional field labour, with Jamaicans employed as equipment handlers, farm managers and greenhouse technicians, while gaining experience in advanced agricultural technologies. The Government is also marking the programme’s 60th anniversary with 60 scholarships for children of farm workers and continued efforts to improve facilities for Jamaican workers overseas.  ______________________ _______________________ Click Here. ______________________ Keep abreast of the news and information in the world. Bark Di Trute, a Jamaican blog, is packed with accurate information. Click the following link and get information at your fingertips. WhatsApp link is: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C9bkP96JIN2JgHiuktY3Jj  _________________ _________________ It's best to view this blog on your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com. _________________ _________________ Subscribe Now! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my Emergency News Advice Service. Make a financial donation now. Without your support, Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261. You can view the blog on your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar to see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles. There is also a weather link, which you can use to track hurricanes. _____________________