THE Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through its Jamaica Liaison Service (JLS), is partnering with Jamaica National (JN) Money Services to strengthen support services provided to seasonal workers in Canada.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the entities, JN will have temporary occupation and use of the JLS offices in Leamington, British Columbia and Nova Scotia to offer its services to the seasonal workers, while JN will provide its office space in Simcoe for the JLS to conduct one-on-one meetings with the workers during scheduled opening hours.

JLS has responsibility for the general welfare of approximately 9,000 seasonal workers recruited under the Overseas Employment Programme annually.

The entities have also agreed to collaborate on welcome activities at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, social events, as well as general meetings with seasonal workers organised by either party.

The MOU was signed at the ministry’s North Street offices in Kingston on Tuesday, July 23.

Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr commended JN for being a consistent and strong partner, noting that JN has had a long-standing relationship with the ministry for payment services to beneficiaries under the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) and the Social Pension Programme.

“It is that collaboration and partnership that is going to enure to the benefit of our farm workers, and we do look forward to furthering and strengthening our collaboration going forward,” he said.

Meanwhile, Charles said the ministry is committed to providing overseas employment opportunities to Jamaicans with disabilities and offering literacy support to Jamaicans interested in the programme.

“There are other things that we are going to be doing to make this programme [one] that can continue to touch and impact so many lives positively,” he said.

General manager of JN Money Services Horace Hines said that JN teams visit farms weekly to assist workers with remitting funds to Jamaica and provide other assistance.

“Our mandate is not just to remit funds. How do we help to improve the lives and livelihoods of the farmers? Part of what we are interested in doing is ensuring that there is enough financial literacy so that they are better able to manage their affairs,” he pointed out.

Hines said he was looking forward to the success of the MOU as it will pave the way for moving into other markets where seasonal workers are employed.

He added that JN will also launch a social club, which has the primary objective of funding and executing charitable projects in Jamaican communities selected by seasonal workers.