Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck has issued a call for greater partnerships to attract more unemployed and unattached youths to the job market.

The justice minister, who was speaking at the commissioning service of 45 new justices of the peace in the parish of St Elizabeth, said that while the country has seen a record decline in its unemployment rate, there is still more work to be done.

“What I am saying to you is there has to be a partnership to get these unemployed, unproductive young men and women into the workforce because they are consumers, and if they are consuming and not producing, they are a burden on the economy. If they are consuming and not producing, they are causing inflation because you are part of the demand but not part of the supply, and the government would like more people to get better jobs, better employment, and better compensation,” he said.

Chuck further added that the increase in salary will be neutralised if steps are not taken to keep the country’s inflation down.

“We have had many salary increases but if inflation is in double-digit you wasting time increasing salaries because in a matter of a few years, the salary comes back to what it was and that is why the Bank of Jamaica has been given the mandate to try to bring inflation to 4 to 6 per cent. When you are in that area four to six per cent (and) when you get a salary of seven per cent, you are benefiting one per cent more than the six per cent,” he said.

The minister called on the newly minted JPs to encourage unemployed persons in their social circle to take advantage of training opportunities.