KINGSTON, Jamaica – The government has allocated $135 million for work to be carried out under the Social Protection for Increased Resilience and Opportunity (SPIRO) Project during the upcoming fiscal year.

The government is planning consultations with key stakeholders to inform the development of an unemployment insurance framework, as well as assessment of the Labour Market Information System.
This sum is contained in the 2025/26 estimates of expenditure, which was tabled in the House of Representatives recently by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams.

The project aims to expand Jamaica’s social protection coverage and strengthen the delivery system, particularly its capacity to respond to shocks.

An assessment of employment services and development of the requirements to support the procurement of a social protection information system will also be undertaken.
The project is being funded through an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan.

– JIS