KINGSTON, Jamaica — Shahine Robinson, the new minister of labour and social security, met with the staff and management of the ministry at its North Street office in Kingston on Wednesday.

Robinson, the second female to head the twinned ministry, following Portia Simpson Miller who held the position between 1989 and 2000, was greeted by Permanent Secretary Colette Roberts Risden and the chief technical directors – Dione Jennings (social security) and Damian Cox (labour) — as well as other senior directors and managers.

The directors updated the minister on various matters including: overseas employment programmes; industrial/conciliation; operations at the Industrial Disputes Tribunal; senior citizens portfolio; issues affecting persons with disabilities; social security programmes (NIS and PATH); and the thrust for productivity improvement through the Jamaica Productivity Centre.

She charged the officers to deliver quality service in their efforts to improve the lives of Jamaicans.

Robinson pledged an “open door policy and an open flow of communication”, adding that she will be working on a schedule to meet with MLSS staff in all the parish offices, as well as tripartite partners and other portfolio associates.