Cabinet approves unemployment insurance benefit

Some Jamaican workers will soon be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits according to the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr.

The minister told the Parliament on Tuesday that Cabinet has approved the introduction of the unemployment insurance benefit, which will be added to the suite of benefits provided by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Charles Jr., made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2025/26 Sectoral Debate.

“This new benefit will serve as a guaranteed safety net for all employees who are contributors to the NIS, with the exception of the self-employed,” he said.

He added that “work is underway to establish the legal and institutional frameworks needed to implement this important national support system”.

The labour and social security minister said one of the key lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic is the “urgent need for a system that supports workers who lose their jobs, helping them to remain financially stable while seeking reemployment”. He said that it was with this in mind that the Government has moved to establish the unemployment insurance scheme