Labour and Social Security Minister, Pearnel Charles Jr, says the Government is continuing efforts to ensure that persons employed through the gig economy are participating in social security mechanisms, such as the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
The gig economy is referred to as a labour market that is characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs.
Charles Jr made the pronouncement during the Heads of CARICOM Social Security Organisations conference in Montego Bay, St James on Thursday.
He argued that the region is characterised by a high level of informality in work arrangements, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Charles Jr said this level of informality in the labour force not only in Jamaica, but the wider region, must be addressed to protect the economy's of Caribbean nations and, ultimately, their citizens.
"The pandemic has had the effect of further expanding the gig economy in Jamaica and other territories, as well as the emergence of the platform economy (the tendency for commerce to increasingly move towards and favour digital platform business models)," he said.
"So, we must, therefore, continue to expand our efforts to promote the transitioning of our informal labour force to formality, and continue the promotion of participation in the national insurance and similar social protection mechanisms for the protection and benefit of all workers and our national economies," Charles Jr declared.
In using Jamaica's own NIS as an example, he said Jamaica's ability to respond appropriately to the increased demand for social support to the vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic "has been due in part to the viability" of the scheme.
He elaborated that, "This viability has been secured through a programme of significant reforms which the NIS has been undertaking since 2019, and which has been facilitated by the support of successive Government administrations."
The reforms, said Charles Jr, have resulted in the scheme being now on a path of significant growth. He said the Government remains committed to strengthening the NIS' administrative arm, and called on other CARICOM nations to pursue similar efforts.
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