Kingston (ILO News) The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Guy Ryder called on The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica, who was accompanied by Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and The Honourable Shahine Robinson, MP, Minister of Labour and Social Security, on 22 February 2017.

The Director-General commended the Government of Jamaica for putting inclusive growth, job creation and decent work at the centre of the work undertaken by the Economic Growth Council and the national strategy of development. He stated that this was a great opportunity to deepen cooperation with the ILO in bringing further emphasis on the Decent Work Agenda in the context of the inclusive growth strategy of Jamaica.

The Honourable Prime Minister explained how economic growth and job creation equals prosperity. Mr Ryder recognised a strong coincidence of perspectives with the foundations of the ILO. He further complimented the Prime Minister and his government for demonstrating its willingness to continue to ensure social dialogue and a widely shared vision in carving the path forward. Over the past years this has clearly helped Jamaica to sail through the difficult times of implementing the IMF agreement. Social dialogue and wider public communication must help to engage and explain policy choices so that the future can be co-created for lasting improvements and impact.

They exchanged views on how both the quantity and the quality of jobs were important for uplifting the Jamaican people to a more prosperous and sustainable future. An important part of creating an enabling environment for this to happen is the Labour Market Reform Programme driven by a tripartite Commission. The ILO again pledged its support for continued technical advisory services to share international best practice, knowledge exchange and capacity building, for example in the areas of youth employment and formalization.

It was recognised that the Decent Work Agenda is embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and hence their implementation. Mr Ryder congratulated the government for its commitment to explore an accelerated implementation.


Mr Ryder was accompanied by Mr Jose Manuel Salazar, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ms Claudia Coenjaerts, Director for the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, and Mr Christian Ramos; ILO Senior Advisor to the DG.

The Director-General is in Jamaica to attend the Caribbean Future of Work Forum and the 10th ILO Meeting of Caribbean Ministers of Labour, held in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica.

The ILO delegation further met with representatives of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions.

It is the first time an ILO Director–General officially visited the Republic of Jamaica.

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