Jamaica

Full-time employment is considered 40 hours weekly and is generally eight hours per day. Seven days a week including Sunday, are now considered working days in Jamaica, with work shifts up to 12 hours in 24 hours.

Overtime

Overtime is defined as work exceeding 40 weekly hours, work on a rest day, or work on a holiday. All work above 40 weekly hours must be paid at a rate of 150% salary. Work on Sundays and public holidays are paid at a rate of 200%.

Maternity Leave

Pregnant employees are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave once one year of service has been completed.

The maternity pay is paid for a period of eight weeks at the regular salary rate.

Paternity Leave

Newborns’ biological fathers are allowed 20 paid workdays for paternity and adoption leave.

This benefit can be used three times in each government entity. It’s available to male employees, 18 or older, with at least a year of continuous service. The leave must be taken within six months of the child’s birth. For subsequent pregnancies, a gap of six months is required between leaves. The leave is also applicable in the unfortunate event of a stillbirth or if the infant passes away within six months of birth.

Adoption Leave

New adoptive parents are granted 20 paid workdays for paternity and adoption leave.

This benefit can be used three times in each government entity. It’s open to employees, 18 or older, with at least a year of continuous service. Adoption leave can be taken all at once or in two parts, as per the employee’s request. The application must be backed by documents from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) or the courts. Adoption leave can be taken once a year, only after a child has been placed with the family.

Jamaica provides universal healthcare, though companies offer supplementary private insurance.

There is no statutory requirement for a probationary period in Jamacia. However, collective agreements generally stipulate a 3 to 6-month probation period.

Persons seeking to obtain a work permit are required to apply to the Work Permit Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) through their prospective employer, contractor, or legal representative.

Employers submitting work permit applications on behalf of prospective employees are required to submit a cover letter to the permanent secretary of the MLSS, outlining:

• The reasons for the application

• The duration of the work being undertaken

• Any efforts to recruit local persons to carry out the work stipulated

Applications for work permits on behalf of self-employed persons must also be submitted with a cover letter outlining:

• The nature and duration of the work stipulated

• Certified copies of the credentials of the applicant

• Two (2) passport photographs

• The individual’s resume

• The individual’s police record

A non-refundable processing fee of 14,400 JMD must be submitted with the application. If the MLSS approves the grant, the applicant must pay a work permit fee before the permit can be issued.The duration of  work permit fees (JMD) are as follows:
Up to 3 months  -      27,000 JMD
3 – 6 months  - 54,000 JMD
6 – 9 months  - 81,000 JMD
9 – 12 months   -1 08,000 JMD
The turnaround time for the approval of a work permit is approximately 4 – 6 weeks.