Cabinet to discuss tourism workers’ pension scheme

WESTERN BUREAU: TOURISM MINISTER Edmund Bartlett has announced that a pension scheme for tourism workers will be discussed when the Cabinet’s legislative committee meets later this week.

Bartlett made the announcement during his keynote address at Saturday evening’s Tourism Service Excellence Awards 2018, which was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James. “People rely on the integrity of the promise we make to visitors, and that promise is fulfilled by the workers of the tourism industry. That is why on Wednesday of next week (this week), the legislative committee of our Cabinet will consider the draft bill for the tourism workers’ pension scheme,” Bartlett told the tourism representatives at the function.

“When they have finished their deliberations, I believe my Cabinet will approve it, and when it is approved, I will be able to take it to Parliament on the day I make my Budget presentation, and say to Jamaica and the workers of the industry that ‘Parliament is now standing between you and a complete pension plan for your future’.

The pension scheme, which was expected to be rolled out last June, will provide each tourism worker with a pension of at least $200,000. However, the scheme has missed several deadlines for launch.

Bartlett said that the creation of appropriate labour market arrangements for tourism workers would boost the sector considerably.

“The workers who you represent must have more because that is the back end of your contribution. At the front end is training and building your capacity to do more and to earn more, to create an opportunity for a new labour market arrangement within the tourism industry,” said Bartlett.