Category: Press Release

Safety of Ackee Locally

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JMEA & JAPA Advises on the Safety and Precautions of Buying and Consuming Ackee Locally

Kingston, Jamaica: The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) and the Jamaica AgroProcessors Association (JAPA) are aware of the current widespread concerns regarding the safety of ackees, Jamaica’s national fruit. Particularly, concerns revolve around the safety of the fruit, whether the current drought has affected the natural process by which the fruit becomes detoxified (and thus safe for consumption) and unsafe practices that are reportedly being employed in preparing and offering the fruit for sale in our local market. The JMEA and JAPA, both entities that are advised by the best expertise available on ackees, can assure the public that ackees, handled and produced for consumption locally in accordance with well-known and well-established traditional practices and norms, are safe.

Extensive work done by researchers at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and Technological Solutions Limited (TSL), supported by historical data gathered by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), has characterized the stages of ripening of the fruit, its safety and (in 2005/2006) the impact of drought and weather-related conditions on the toxin content of the fruit. This work (which is published internationally) and the scientists that produced it, assure us that nothing has substantially changed over the years. Specifically, TSL also advises that current data confirm that ackees which were selected when fully opened, continue to be substantially free of hypoglycin, the toxin associated with ackee poisoning.

Over the last 25 years, members of the JMEA and JAPA, supported by this local expertise have invested heavily in the study of, and development of systems to ensure the safety of ackees processed for local consumption and for exports. This has resulted in canned ackees being amongst the safest of commercially processed products, whether offered for sale locally or exported. In fact, there has never been a credible incident of ackee poisoning reported for canned ackees in the more than 50 years that canned ackees have been offered for sale in Jamaica and internationally.

Besides representing a significant component of our processed food exports (valued at US$24.5 million in 2021), ackees are an important part of Jamaican culture. The JMEA and JAPA, therefore wish Jamaicans to be assured that their national fruit, whether produced for local sale or for export, continues to be safe. We urge consumers, however, to ensure that they know and trust the source from which they are getting the fruit and to use only fruit taken from fully ripened, wide open pods to prepare their favourite ackee meal.

For more information, please contact:
Shantole Thompson
Marketing & PR Manager, JMEA
shantole@jmea.org; 876-582-9742
OR
Bobique Brown
Marketing & PR Officer, JMEA
bobique@jmea.org; 876-232-9701

Participation of the JMEA in the 2023 FOODEX JAPAN Observation Tour

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JMEA EXPLORES OPPORTUNITIES IN THE JAPANESE FOOD AND BEVERAGE MARKET
TOKYO, JAPAN – 07 MARCH 2023: A three-member delegation from the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) has arrived in Japan to participate in the FOODEX JAPAN 2023 Observation Tour—a strategic opportunity as Jamaican exporters seek greater access to the Japanese food and beverage market.
The Embassy of Jamaica in Tokyo secured the invitation and sponsorship from the Japan Management Association (JMA) for the delegation to attend the Observation Tour, as part of the 48th staging of the International Food and Beverage Exhibition (FOODEX JAPAN 2023) scheduled for March 07–10.
Over the next 4 days, the delegation comprising John Mahfood (President), Richard Pandohie (Immediate Past President) and Mrs. Kamesha Blake (Executive Director) will engage with and gain insights from the sponsors and exhibitors as the JMEA prepares to attend FOODEX JAPAN as a full exhibitor in 2024. The JMEA will seek to increase market opportunities for Jamaican products with an initial focus on spices, condiments and beverages.
At the close of day one, JMEA President John Mahfood shared: “Tremendous effort on the part of the Embassy of Jamaica in Tokyo to arrange this visit for us. FOODEX JAPAN is an interesting expo with over 3000 exhibitors showcasing thousands of products. It is valuable for businesses in the industry to attend this event and get new ideas, especially when considering new markets. From the JMEA’s perspective, we hope to have several of our members showcasing products at next year’s expo.”
The invitation to FOODEX JAPAN comes as the Embassy of Jamaica in Tokyo continues to actively engage Japanese partners together with Rodney Reid, Jamaica’s Honorary Investment Adviser (HIA) in Japan, to explore opportunities for Jamaican exporters. The Embassy and HIA have been working closely under the Government of Jamaica’s Economic Diplomacy Programme (EDP) to strengthen links with the Japanese private sector to boost Jamaica’s trade and investment prospects in this region.
Jamaica’s Ambassador to Japan, Shorna-Kay Richards, shared that: “With the launch of the new EDP, a joint initiative between the Jamaican Foreign Ministry and JAMPRO, our embassies have had an increased role in promoting Jamaica’s trade and investment agenda. This is a role that we fully embrace. The Embassy and HIA are therefore pleased that our engagement with the JMA led to this opportunity for the Jamaican private sector.”
“Since Prime Minister Holness visited Japan in 2019, there has been a greater push to strengthen economic ties between Jamaica and Japan. The JMEA’s participation in the Observation Tour is another important step in these efforts. Japan is a longstanding partner with links to several key sectors in Jamaica thanks to the coffee, cotton and motor vehicle trades. We want to expand these links and balance our trading relationship with Japan by creating opportunities for Jamaican exporters.”

In welcoming the JMEA’s participation, JAMPRO’s VP of Marketing Gabriel Heron added that: “JAMPRO fully supports the participation of John Mahfood and his team who, together with the support of the Jamaican Embassy in Tokyo, will unearth the potential export opportunities presented by FOODEX JAPAN. It promises to be a very insightful observatory tour as we focus on getting our private sector into new markets for trade and investment under the EDP initiative.”
To round off the week’s activities, the Embassy will be arranging a series of engagements for the JMEA executives with key Japanese government entities, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The Agency’s export promotion experts with experience in Latin American and the Caribbean will meet with the delegation to discuss market entry strategies for Japan. The Embassy will also host a networking dinner with representatives from the Japanese public and private sectors who are involved in various areas of the bilateral agenda between Jamaica and Japan.
FOODEX JAPAN is one of the largest food and beverage exhibitions in Asia. Held every year since 1976, FOODEX JAPAN has

 

 

 

 

 

For more information:

Contact:

Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association
E-mail: jmea@jmea.org or kamesha@jmea.org
Telephone: +1 (876) 922-8880
OR
Embassy of Jamaica in Tokyo
E-mail: info@jamaicaembassy.jp
Telephone: +81 (0) 3-3435-1861

 

Honey Bun Foundation & JMEA MOU Signing Ceremony

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JMEA, Honey Bun Foundation sign MOU to empower SMEs
Local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are set to get a big boost by way of an Advisory Committee Model developed by The Honey Bun Foundation, which will be adopted by the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) to benefit its member companies.

On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, leaders of the JMEA and The Honey Bun Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), giving JMEA member companies, 30 per cent of which are categorized as ‘small companies’, access to the model and indicating the JMEA’s commitment to follow the Foundation’s tried and tested strategic roadmap to help give the businesses a boost.

“One of my biggest dreams was for the Foundation to partner with the JMEA. This marks a very important day for me,” said Michelle Chong, Founder of The Honey Bun Foundation at the signing ceremony held at Honey Bun’s Retirement Crescent offices in Kingston. “We want this programme to reach across the breadth of Jamaica to help small businesses grow. We are going to use this to change Jamaica,” she added.

President of the JMEA, John Mahfood in commending Chong on her initiative, said, “Not only does she care a lot, but she also wants to do something for the economic benefit of Jamaica. What the Honey Bun Foundation is doing will reach more people. The strength of the JMEA with a small nimble organisation like the Honey Bun Foundation, is going to help the process of getting to those companies who we need to help.”

The Honey Bun Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Honey Bun Limited, developed the Advisory Committee Model as part of its mandate to create various business empowerment models for SMEs to help them grow and thrive. The Advisory Committee Model pairs qualifying SMEs with teams of expert advisors from various fields. The SMEs follow the guidance of the experts for a period of 12 months, while utilizing a strategic roadmap developed by the Foundation. The engagement between SMEs and the Advisors follows clearly outlined terms of engagement that ensure accountability.

The Honey Bun Foundation recently closed the first run of its Advisory Committee Model which it led with the support of a team of advisors, dubbed ‘Nation Builders’, who guided participating SMEs to unprecedented results, with one business reporting a 30 per cent jump in profits.

Contact:
Shantole Thompson, Marketing & PR Manager
shantole@jmea.org; 876-582-9742
OR
Bobique Brown, Marketing & PR

JMEA-Caribshopper Ceremony

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JMEA Partners with Caribshopper to Increase Exports for Member Companies
The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) have partnered with Caribshopper, an e-commerce marketplace that allows the Caribbean consumer to shop US retailers & Caribbean retailers all from one central app. This initiative was launched Thursday, February 23rd, 2023 at Outpost Republic, 80 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston Jamaica.

Under this established partnership, JMEA member companies especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will have the opportunity to compete in the world market as they tend to have a great deal of difficulty in appointing distributors in countries like the USA, UK, and Canada. President of the JMEA, John Mahfood, said that this gives manufacturers and by extension Jamaica, a chance to be on par with other international companies. “Companies will just have to ensure that their products are well priced, of good quality, and attractive” Mahfood expressed. He further advised manufacturers to be patient with having their products on the e-commerce market as the bulk of sales will come over time and there is a good long-term benefit.

CEO of Caribshopper, Kadion Preston, said that the decision to partner with the JMEA was a strategic one that has been in the works for over a year. “Caribshopper will be putting ourselves together to see how we can move the dial whether through helping merchants to better price their product which is a problem or how to get stronger digitally and present their products,” he shared. Preston noted that Caribshopper was founded on the premise of Caribbean pride, “being able to show a wide range of what we make and the strength of our culture is important to myself and my team. So to be able to work closely with organizations like JMEA, it’s a very happy day for us and it is a success.”

In 2022, Caribshopper sent over 68,000 packages to North America and Canada and is currently making plans to expand to the UK through its partnership with JAMPRO. With this success, member companies are expected to thrive on Caribshopper’s online marketplace and the JMEA is hopeful that there will be an increase in the value of exports. Speaking at the ceremony, Sandra McLeish, Managing Director of Sankhard Company Ltd. the parent company of Springvale Products, emphasized the reach that Caribshopper has. “Caribshopper allows us [Springvale Products] to get into places that through the traditional route we would not be able to reach. We are an example of the really small entity that is benefiting from being able to be on a platform like this and get our products out,” expressed McLeish.

Present at the signing ceremony were the Hon. Dr Norman Dunn, State Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce (MIIC) and Shullete Cox, President, JAMPRO all brought remarks echoing the importance of expanding exports and commending the Association on exploring all possible exporting avenues. Other notable attendees supported the remarks by noting that it is an exciting time to be a part of the exporting community in Jamaica.

JMEA’s Executive Director, Kamesha Blake, in giving the vote of thanks expressed gratitude to all attendees and participants for making the ceremony a success. She also used the opportunity to encourage full support for the upcoming Expo Jamaica that will be held on April 27-30, 2023 under the theme, Connecting the World to Jamaica. “I look forward to the business community being at Expo Jamaica where we will continue to display Brand Jamaica,” said Blake in closing the Partnership Signing Ceremony.

 

Contact:
Shantole Thompson, Marketing & PR Manager
shantole@jmea.org; 876-582-9742
OR
Bobique Brown, Marketing & PR Officer
bobique@jmea.org; 876-232-9701

JMEA urges importers to clear shipments at Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL)

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The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) is echoing the call for local importers to clear shipments being stored at KFTL urgently. The situation at the port is grave and will impact local businesses as failure to clear shipments will result in continued backlogs at the port and the possibility of a shortage of goods.

The JMEA is cognizant of the challenges that are being encountered due to a myriad of issues including disruption to global supply chains caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic which led to many businesses ramping up inventory. However, for normalcy to be restored and maintained at the ports, importers will have to explore other storage options for their containers and ensure that additional storage remains a consistent investment. Importers that are facing challenges are encouraged to work together to find solutions to get their containers off the port.

In working with KFTL to understand and address the issues, the JMEA toured the Port on Friday, December 9th during which we were informed of the progressive investments KFTL made such as additional scanners. New straddle carriers were also serviced and parts were installed. This resulted in all 15 straddle carriers being in full operation as of the first week of December. KFTL has also increased its labour to tackle the issues.

As Jamaica’s leading industry Association, serving as the voice of over 500 exporters, and manufacturers, we continue to implore all importers, including our members to do the right thing, and urgently move your goods. The Port is not a storage facility, its primary function to get goods in and out of the country is critical and should be maintained.

 

 

 

 

For more information:

Contact:

Shantole Thompson, Marketing & PR Manager; shantole@jmea.org; 876-582-9742
OR
Bobique Brown, PR Officer; bobique@jmea.org; 876-232-9701

 

JMEA to Join Ministerial Delegation Visiting Guyana

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The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) will be joining the 60-member delegation to Guyana from January 23rd to January 28th. Vice President of the JMEA and Managing Director of Fleetwood Jamaica, Richard Coe, will be representing the Association on this pivotal trade mission. The delegation will be led by the Minister of Industry, Investment & Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill.

In sharing his thoughts on the upcoming trade mission President of the JMEA, John Mahfood, expressed, “this is a great opportunity for Jamaican companies to establish themselves in one of the fastest growing economies in the world.”

In the past, member companies have expressed interest in extending their reach to Guyana. As the chief voice for the productive sector, the trade mission will create a window of opportunity for the JMEA to initiate connections with key stakeholders in the Guyanese industry.

With a path set on accelerated growth, the Government of Guyana is implementing new policies to drive expansion. The booming performance of the economy is reflected in the 62.3% GDP recorded in 2022. Given Jamaica’s advancement in both the goods and services industries, the JMEA believes that this is the opportune time to explore increased trade and investment opportunities between both countries.

The JMEA has a membership of over 500 companies of which a third are exporters. Since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the global supply chain crisis, several exporters have increased trading in CARICOM. Through this mission, the Association is looking to forge long-term partnerships which include gaining the interest of Guyanese traders to attend Expo Jamaica, which will be held from April 27-30. The JMEA will be keen to have Guyanese registering as a buyer for Expo Jamaica, to explore business opportunities in Jamaica. For more information on Expo Jamaica visit the website https://www.expojamaica.com.jm/.

 

 

 

For more information:

Contact:

Shantole Thompson, Marketing & PR Manager; shantole@jmea.org; 876-582-9742
OR
Bobique Brown, PR Officer; bobique@jmea.org; 876-232-9701

 

DHL Partners with JMEA to Offer Support Logistics for Member Companies

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The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association have partnered with DHL Jamaica to provide support logistics for JMEA member companies. This initiative was launched Tuesday, December 13th, 2022 at DHL’s headoffice, 19 Haining Road, Kingston Jamaica.

Under this established partnership, JMEA member companies will have access to special discounted rates provided by DHL. The Country Manager for DHL Jamaica, Nikkolai Cowan, said that members will have a direct channel with DHL in order to export products. “We [DHL] can use our expertise in global trade to help the members of the Association” Cowan expressed.

The JMEA is cognizant of the existing challenges that are crippling small companies; therefore, as part of our mandate, we are always actively seeking opportunities to provide asistance to our member companies. This collaboration with DHL will give manufacturers an opportunity to get their products to consumers wherever they are in the world. President John Mahfood in his remarks highlighted that it is challenging for small companies, without existing overseas distributors break into the export market. “With e-commerce there is an opportunity to export anywhere in the world and I believe that this is for us at the JMEA an important area of growth for small businesses. Partnering with DHL will assist with the reduction of costs and the special pricing provided will only make it easier for our Jamaican manufacturers” he noted. In his conclusion, President Mahfood earnestly thanked DHL for their partnership.

Furthermore, Executive Director of the Association, Kamesha Blake, shared that DHL is an entity that can add great value to the advocacy of the JMEA. This was supported by Community Manager of DHL Jamaica, Michelle Anderson, who expressed that, “We are eager to support our Jamaican businesses; we know that companies are trying to grow and export their products and e-commerce is an area that a lot of businesses need support on and that is our expertise.”
The JMEA will be responsible for communicating this offer to its members and DHL will be able to directly engage with member companies through various marketing opportunities.

 

 

For more information:

Contact:

Bobique Brown
Marketing & Public Relations Officer, JMEA
876-232-9701; bobique@jmea.org

 

JMEA tours KFLT to identify solutions to relieve the congestion at the port

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On Friday, December 9th, 2022 the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) was invited to tour Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) following discussions about the congestion at the Port of Kingston. For several months, there has been increased displeasure and disappointment within the productive sector caused by the severe backlogs in the clearance of goods. The JMEA took the initiative to ascertain the way forward in relieving the congestion to better serve our members.

The KFTL tour was led by CEO, Capt. Jędrzej Mierzewski and COO, Carlos Cabrera. In responding to a question asked by President of the JMEA, John Mahfood on how dire the situation at the Port of Kingston was, Cabrera noted that the issue is stemming from the new policy implemented by the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) to increase surveillance which requires an increase in the level of inspection of containers. Along with the newly implemented policy, other factors contributing to the congestion includes an excess of 1500 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) in the domestic yard, and containers being left at the terminal by importers until storage at warehouses or factories becomes available.

Cabrera however shared that KFLT has been extremely combative in clearing the delays. Providing further insight, he shared that “the backlog has been reduced by 60% and by December 12th or 13th things should go back to normal. Hours have been extended up until the 23rd of December to faciliate the holiday period and aid in the delays.” Progressive investments have also been acquired in the form of additional scanners; new straddle carriers were also serviced and parts installed. This has resulted in all 15 straddle carriers being in full operation as of the first week of December.

The JMEA will be actively working with KFTL to identify solutions that will reduce the amount of containers being stored by importers. The Association is also pleased to share with our members and the general public that KFTL is taking the appropriate course of action to better serve local manufacturers, distributors, and the public. During regular operations 30 to 40 containers are inspected per day however, inspection of containers have increased by 20%. There have also been a 30% increase in labour at the warehouse and 25% more operational hours. The JMEA remains committed to the advocacy of its members to ensure that their business productions are not affected during this festive season.

The tour was supported by several members of the JMEA Board of Directors, including President John Mahfood and Executive Director Kamesha Blake, members of the JMEA secretariat, as well as representatives from the Port Authority of Jamaica, and the VM Pensions Management.

 

For more information:

Contact:

Bobique Brown
Marketing & Public Relations Officer, JMEA
876-232-9701; bobique@jmea.org

 

21 Awards Won at the JMEA’s Manufacturers and Exporters (M&E) Awards Gala 2022

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The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) hosted its 5th annual Manufacturers & Exporters (M&E) Awards Gala in Association with VM Group, October 08, 2022, at the Jamaica Pegasus under the theme “Manufacturing and Exporting: Reigniting Jamaica for Greatness”. The ceremony was the first face to face Gala since 2019 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was also a grand celebration of the JMEA’s 75th Anniversary.

 

The JMEA’s M&E Awards acknowledged and rewarded the achievements and efforts of local manufacturers and exporters and their resilience in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Award winners displayed hard work, dedication and inspirational business acumen and agility over the past two years.

 

  • Red Stripe celebrating their win for VM JMEA Legacy Award
    Red Stripe celebrating their win for VM JMEA Legacy Award

 

The host for the night’s ceremony was former Miss Jamaica World and media personality, Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid, who delivered a witty and jovial performance that kept the audience engaged, dancing and chuckling with amusement in between her masterful announcements of the night’s winners. Myrna Hague, “Jamaica’s first lady of Jazz” put on a world-class performance during dinner through timeless covers, while DJ Narity set the mood with the sound of music through the awards and kept the crowd “bouncing” with hits after hits.

 

Nineteen awards were shared between thirteen (14) companies. The biggest winner of the night was Red Stripe, copping 4 Awards: the Vision 2030- Jamaica Award for Corporate Social Responsibility; the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ) Award for Quality and Standards, the Robert Lightbourne Award for Productivity and Competitiveness; and the JMEA-VM Group Legacy Award.

 

Seprod Limited walked away with two of the most coveted awards of the night: The Prime Minister’s Award for Large Champion Exporter in Manufacturing and the Governor General’s Award for Manufacturer of the Year.

 

Three (3) new awards were given this year two of which were awarded to individuals as opposed to companies: The Consular Corp of Jamaica Next Generation Leadership Award, which went to Mr. Charles Barrett of Jamaican Teas; the President’s Award for Director in Service, which went to a very surprised Kathryn Silvera, who has served as a JMEA Director for more than ten years and have provided tremendous support to the work of the Secretariat; and Best Digital Ad Campaign, which went to Jamaican Teas.

 

Additionally, Fleetwood Jamaica Limited walked away with the JPS Energy Efficiency Award and the JMEA Best New Packaging Award. The Award for Best Support Service was won by Technological Solutions Limited (TSL), while EdenJoy Whole Foods walked away with the JBDC Nicola Gordon-Rowe Buy Jamaican Award. The Peter King New Manufacturer of the Year Award went to NA Dezigns N More, while Morgan’s Creek took home the New Exporter of the Year award.

 

Caribbean Foods Limited won the JAMPRO Award for Champion Small Exporter for Manufacturing. The Prime Minister’s Award for Large Champion Exporter in Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries was secured by Rainforest Caribbean. Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ) copped the Paulette Rhoden Award for Medium Champion Exporter of the Year. Trade Wind Citrus won the Charles Henderson Award for Breakthrough Product of the Year. The Ray Hadeed Award for Best Micro, Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprise went to Home Choice Enterprise Limited, and the much-coveted Governor General’s Award for Exporter of the year went to Grace Kennedy Foods, Latin America and the Caribbean.

 

The President of the JMEA, Mr. John Mahfood, in his welcome and opening remarks, indicated that the theme for this year’s M&E Awards, “Manufacturing and Exporting: Reigniting Jamaica for Excellence” is indicative of the importance of the productive sector and how many companies have demonstrated their resilience after weathering the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. He lauded the local companies who have taken up market share and expanded into other CARICOM markets, much in the same way other CARICOM members have had expanded into the Jamaican market in years prior. He reiterated the commitment of the JMEA to continue leading the way in advocacy for policies that benefit the members of the JMEA and the wider productive sector. He also noted that while Jamaica faces a tough time with a hyperinflationary market, where everyone ordinary citizens are feeling the financial burden, companies should seek to make their staff as comfortable through improved salaries and benefits.

 

The M & E Awards was also supported by Exclusive Sponsor, Red Stripe; Emerging Sponsor: J Wray and Nephew Limited; Niche Sponsors: Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF)/Tourism Linkages Network (TLN); and the Jamaica Pegasus; Gold Sponsors: Jamaican Teas, Caribbean Producers (Jamaica) Ltd, Appliance Traders Limited (ATL), Proven Wealth Limited, and Lithographic Printers Limited; Silver Sponsors: Visa, Nestle Jamaica Limited, Grace Foods Latin America and Caribbean Division, EXIM Bank, TVJ & JNN (RJR Gleaner Communications Group) and Wisynco; Bronze Sponsors: Jamaica Producers Group, ARC Manufacturing Limited, Seabord Freight and Shipping Jamaica Limited, Caribbean Foods Limited, and Project 2 Project Limited. Awards Sponsors were the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS), the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), National Certifications body of Jamaica, Vision 2030-Jamaica and JAMPRO.

 

For more information:

Contact:

Stacey Guyah, Marketing and Public Relations Manager

Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA)

Tel: (876) 887-4133 | (876) 564-3069

Email: stacey@jmea.org

The Time Is Now for Workplace Vaccine Policies

Posted on by Jmea

The Time Is Now for Workplace Vaccine Policies

Jamaica is at a critical stage in the execution of the vaccination strategy. With over 500,000 doses currently available, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) along with the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) and the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) believe that the time is now for private sector entities to establish policies that require employees to get vaccinated.

Jamaica Left Behind in Vaccination Race

With less than 10% of the population fully vaccinated almost two years into the pandemic, Jamaica is being left behind with achieving population immunity and is putting our recovery at risk. The social and economic impact will be devastating, and the ripple effects will continue for years to come.
We are firm in our position that private sector entities must ensure that we have a safe workplace where the spread of the COVID19 virus is minimised and therefore protecting the lives of customers workers and suppliers. A vaccination policy not only saves lives it reduces disruption in businesses and sustains productivity.

Private Sector Vaccination Policies

The PSOJ, JMEA, JCC, the Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF) and Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) in September 2021 issued a comprehensive guideline on COVID safety measures in the workplace and the relevant legal duties of the employers and employees. The protocol recommends that employers start the process by undertaking a risk assessment to ascertain the level of risk presented in the work environment. It thereafter recommends that businesses develop vaccine policies that are suited for their respective business model and industry, noting the steps outlined in the guidelines. Special consideration may need to be given for medical or religious conditions.

The general recommendation is for employees to be taken through vaccine awareness programmes and given an opportunity to take the vaccine which is now widely available. After this period of engagement and education, the employer should reassess any risks which may still exist and ensure mitigating steps are taken — this could include requesting that a COVID test is done periodically.

Public Sector Vaccination Policy

In addition to the above recommendations, we are of the view that the national problem of the low vaccination rate requires more far-reaching measures. We would encourage and support the Govemment selectively using its powers under the DRMA to introduce incremental requirements for vaccination to protect the public, just as it has imposed other measures. A specific example would be the Govemment implementing vaccination policies and protocols in a phased manner for the public sector, similar to what has been instituted by the private sector and unions.

Utilize the Services of the PSVI

The associations would like to remind private sector companies to utilize the resources of the Private Sector Vaccine Initiative (PSVI) to get credible resources and support for their vaccination awareness programmes and to schedule vaccination for their team members.

For further information:
Jamaica Chamber of Commerce
JCCPresident@jamaicachamber.org.jm 876-922-0150

Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica
psojpresident@psoj.org
876-809-2016

Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association
president@jmea.org
876-922-8880

 

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