Durrant Pate/ Contributor

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has formalised a strategic working partnership with the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ), marking a significant step toward deeper collaboration on workforce development, labour policy and national resilience. 

The partnership was announced at the opening of HRMAJ’s 45th Annual Human Resource and Leadership Conference, held from February 4-6th at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. Portfolio Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. confirmed the signing of a Joint Statement of Intent, which establishes a framework for ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the Ministry and HRMAJ. The agreement signals closer alignment on labour market reform, professional standards, workforce planning and social dialogue, positioning HR professionals as strategic partners in national development. 

In his address, Minister Charles underscored the expanding responsibilities of HR professionals, describing them as architects of organisational culture, guardians of workplace equity and key agents of national resilience, saying, “There is no doubt of the inextricable connection between what this association seeks to achieve and what the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has as its mandate….We have shared goals, mutual obligations, and a responsibility to work together to strengthen Jamaica’s workforce and global competitiveness.”

Driving productivity

Continuing, the Minister contended, “You are expected to do more with less, to drive productivity, foster innovation, ensure compliance and maintain harmony in increasingly complex workplaces. That is why this partnership must go beyond formality and become an active collaboration in national development.” The announcement set the tone for the two-day conference, staged under the theme “Resilient Leadership, Strategic Impact: HR at the Heart of Jamaica’s Rebuilding.” 

HRMAJ President, Dr. Cassida Jones Johnson, noted that the partnership with the Ministry affirms HRMAJ’s role as a critical stakeholder in shaping labour policy and professional standards, particularly at a time when organisations are navigating rapid change, workforce displacement, and heightened employee support needs. The conference brought together hundreds of HR practitioners, business leaders, consultants and public-sector stakeholders to examine the evolving role of human resource management amid economic uncertainty, technological disruption and climate-related shocks.

Keynote speaker for day one was Lisa Soares Lewis, who served on the Joint Private Sector Emergency Operations Centre (PS-EOC), which coordinated private-sector disaster response efforts across the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Jamaica Chamber of Commerce. Her presentation focused on leadership resilience, crisis response and the role of HR in national recovery following Hurricane Melissa. 

Day two looked at global shifts

Her address examined how organisations and leaders must adapt to increasing climate-related disruption while safeguarding productivity, employee wellbeing and institutional stability. For day two, George Roper, Deputy Governor of Finance, Technology, and Administration at the Bank of Jamaica explored the intersection of economic stability, labour market trends and workforce planning.

The presentation highlighted the implications of global economic shifts, skills mismatches and productivity pressures on Jamaica’s workforce, reinforcing the need for strategic HR leadership in both the public and private sectors. HRMAJ President, Dr. Cassida Jones Johnson said the conference and the formalised partnership reflect a deliberate repositioning of the HR profession in Jamaica.

“This conference was intentionally designed to move HR beyond administration and into strategic national relevance,” Dr Jones Johnson argued adding, “from economic policy and disaster resilience to leadership ethics and workforce transformation, the conversations over these two days reinforce that HR professionals are central to rebuilding organisations and strengthening Jamaica’s competitiveness.”

Conference sessions and workshops addressed workforce recovery, the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, talent mobility, ethical leadership, hybrid and remote work management, and employee mental health. 

Practical discussions focused on equipping HR professionals to manage displacement, organisational change, and performance in increasingly complex work environments. As HRMAJ marks 45 years of professional leadership, the conference and the formalised partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security signal a strengthened alignment between policy and practice, reinforcing HR’s role as a strategic pillar in Jamaica’s economic and social development.