Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Mrs. Colette Roberts Risden, who has responsibility for Jamaica’s Overseas Employment Programmes, led a high-level engagement in Miami aimed at strengthening labour diplomacy, expanding overseas job opportunities, and deepening collaboration with key stakeholders in the United States.

The discussions were held at the Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami and brought together senior officials from the Consulate, led by Consul General Oliver Mair, alongside representatives of the Jamaica Central Labour Organisation (JCLO). The meeting also served as an introductory engagement between the JCLO and the Miami Consulate team, providing a platform to outline the JCLO’s increased thrust to grow the United States employment programme and to explore structured collaboration with the Consulate in support of that expansion.

The engagement focused on aligning diplomatic outreach, employer engagement, and labour administration to strengthen Jamaica’s overseas employment framework. Particular attention was given to improving coordination with U.S.-based employers, enhancing systems for worker preparation and placement, and reinforcing mechanisms that safeguard the welfare, rights, and productivity of Jamaican workers abroad.

Mrs. Roberts Risden underscored the strategic importance of overseas employment to Jamaica’s economic resilience and workforce development, especially in the context of global labour demand and post-crisis recovery. She emphasised that the Overseas Employment Programmes must continue to be managed with strong governance, accountability, and inter-agency coordination to ensure that opportunities created are ethical, sustainable, and beneficial to both workers and employers.

Discussions also highlighted the role of Jamaica’s overseas missions in supporting labour mobility, employer relations, and worker welfare, with the Miami Consulate identified as a key partner in advancing the United States employment portfolio. The parties explored practical avenues for collaboration, including information sharing, employer engagement, and joint outreach initiatives.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the shared commitment of the Ministry, the JCLO, and the Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami to work in close partnership to advance Jamaica’s overseas employment agenda, strengthen institutional coordination, and position Jamaican workers as a reliable and highly valued workforce in international labour market