THE continued decline of Jamaica’s birth rate has highlighted the need to reassess traditional notions of retirement, said Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr who emphasised the imperative for society to adapt to the changing landscape.

“The birth rate is declining while the mortality age is increasing, and therefore we have to adjust in our thinking about how we treat with persons after the current age of retirement,” said Charles Jr.

The minister was speaking at the launch of Worker’s Week and Labour Day on Friday, held under the theme: ‘Ramp up di access…show that you care’. This year the focus will be on persons with disabilities, the elderly, and the vulnerable.

He referred to recently published news articles which stated that, according to the Jamaica Population Health Status Report 2000- 2022, which was tabled in the Parliament last week, Jamaica’s crude birth rate, which is the number of annual live births per 1,000 population, declined by 10.2 percentage points from 21.7 per 1000 population in 2000 to 11.4 per 1000 population in 2022.

The report further stated that in 2019 there were more than 576,738 Jamaicans under the age of 15 compared to 261,750 Jamaicans over the age of 65. However, between 2000 and 2019 the child population decreased while the elderly population grew by 32.6 per cent.

“A big part of what we’re discussing at the ministry now is how do we contemplate the future of work that must contemplate the future of integration of [the elderly] cohort. You cyah go home and sit down any more just like that,” the minister said.

“We have a lot to think about in terms of the new frontier in which all citizens will have to now participate to their full capacity,” he stressed.

Of the 1,320,400 people in the workforce up to October 2023, according to Statistical Institute of Jamaica, approximately only 20 per cent of them are part of a pension plan.

This means a majority of people retiring will have to find other sources of income when they leave the workforce.

And according to Financial Services Commission, as at June 30, 2022 the total value of assets in the pensions industry amounted to $705.58 billion.

Worker’s Week and Labour Day celebratory activities will commence on May 17, ending on May 23.

The minister said activities will be tailored to celebrate the progress of Jamaican workers and the labour movement, from its birth to an era of industrial harmony when workers now have a right to representation in the bargaining process.

“That industrial harmony is not just happening by coincidence. It is happening through a very deliberate approach to ensure that there is a space created by our permanent secretary and by our team for people to come and safely have discussions,” he said.

The minister further noted that Jamaica has made significant progress implementing provisions under the Disabilities Act of 2014, to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities.

He said that this year’s focus is a call to action for all Jamaicans to pledge their support in fostering the inclusivity that is necessary — moving beyond talk to action.

“It serves as a reminder that everyone of us — regardless of our challenges, regardless of our abilities — that we are all in circumstances that merit equal access to opportunities and services,” said Charles Jr, adding that all Jamaicans will benefit from increased access.

“Our focus is on providing access but it surpasses just physical access, and this is something that we want to reiterate. We are talking now about access to education, access to financial and social support, and access to employment opportunities,” said the minister.