KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) led Government is intensifying efforts to bring more assistance to Jamaicans who encounter challenges but do not have the financial resources necessary to respond adequately.

Party representative Pearnel Charles Jr, who currently has responsibility for Labour and Social Security, gave the assurance as he addressed a Jamaica Labour Party Area Council one meeting in Fletcher’s Land on Tuesday night which took place under the theme ‘West Kingston Live — We Choose Jamaica’.

Charles Jr says the Andrew Holness-led administration has put in place a structure to make sure that as many Jamaicans in need as possible are supported and a strong labour market is developed.

He described the 30 per cent increase in the current budget for the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) programme as a signal of the administration’s willingness to do what it can to increase the capacity of Jamaicans to cope with the cost of living challenges.

“We also put in place career workshops so that your children can know how to write resumes and how to choose jobs and where to get the training and that they are able to access some on-the-job training,” Charles Jr said.

He also referred to the Government’s recent increase in the minimum wage.

“I remember when everybody else in the Caribbean was growing and we had to wonder, is what happen to us? In the 1990s, Jamaica had the highest unemployment rate of more than 16 per cent but under the Jamaica Labour Party, after we just come out of a pandemic, the hardest time ever, we have the lowest unemployment ever of 4.2 per cent,” Charles Jr continued.

He noted that when the Holness administration returned to office in 2016, the national minimum wage was $6,000 but has since been increased twice and is now at $15,000.

“This is evidence of a kind of Government that is looking out for the people,” he said.