Source: United Nations – Geneva
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families today concluded its consideration of the combined initial and second periodic report of Jamaica. Committee Experts commended the State on training programmes for officials and raised questions on the current bilateral agreements in place, most notably with Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, and the treatment of undocumented migrants.
Ermal Frasheri, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said Jamaica should be congratulated on the State’s various training programmes for officials, asking questions about specific trainings pertaining to the Convention.
Prasad Kariyawasam, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked about the labour agreements in place between Jamacia and the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom; what kind of agreements were in place with these countries at this point? How did the provisions affect Jamaican migrant workers in those countries? What kind of consular diplomatic representation did Jamaica have in those countries? What were the main challenges faced and what was the State party doing to address these challenges?
Jasminka Dzumhur, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked about migrants approaching Jamaica from Cuba by boat; how were they treated when they did not have documents? How did the State return them? What happened to those who were found undocumented in Jamaica? Where were they sent? Who provided legal aid to migrants?
The delegation said Jamaica had bilateral working arrangements in place with Canada and the United States, although the agreement with the United States was not a written agreement and was more of an understanding. Many Jamaicans had travelled to the United Kingdom after World War II to work, but there was no current bilateral agreement in place with the United Kingdom. A seasonal agricultural worker’s programme was in place with Canada, which had been created in 1966 and re-signed in 1995. Each worker was required to sign an employment contract which entitled them to lodgements, meals, and payment of wages. Jamaica had appointed liaison officers in Canada, across four offices, where the largest concentrations of workers were located.
The delegation said Jamaican law considered irregular migrants as being in breach of the detention law, and when they were detained, their rights were enshrined within the Jamaican Constitution. Irregular migrants were held at local police stations, usually close to their place of entry. If a person requested to apply for refugee status, they could not be removed from Jamaica until this application was considered, regardless of their nationality or means of entering the country. The State did not seek to criminalise those in irregular migration. There was no cross-contamination of migrants with convicted men and women, even if they were housed in correctional facilities.
Pearnel Charles Jr, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica, speaking via a video recording, said migration was an integral part of Jamaica’s national experience, and the State continued to prioritise policies that promoted safe, orderly, and regular migration, in alignment with international standards.
Jamaica had introduced several key policy initiatives and programmes aimed at ensuring the fair treatment and protection of migrant workers, particularly in the areas of labour mobility, social protection, and anti-exploitation measures. Despite this progress, challenges remained, including expanding access to social protection for all migrant workers, regardless of their status, and strengthening data collection to improve policy responses to migration trends.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Kariyawasam thanked Jamaica for the professional and constructive dialogue. It was a challenging time for migrants’ rights and this interaction was very important. Jamaica had a vibrant history and had a special role to play in setting standards in the region and the world.
Tyesha Turner, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the constructive dialogue and all those who had made the dialogue possible. Jamaica apologised for the delay in submitting the report and recognised the importance of complying with its obligations. Jamaica would continue to work to ensure that all migrant workers and members of their families enjoyed the full protection of their rights.
The delegation of Jamaica was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; the Ministry of National Security; and the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
The webcast of Committee meetings can be found here. All meeting summaries can be found here. Documents and reports related to the Committee’s fortieth session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 15 April, to launch its general comment no. 6 on the convergent protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families through the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
Report
The Committee has before it the combined initial and second periodic report of Jamaica (CMW/C/JAM/1-2).
Presentation of Report
PEARNEL CHARLES JR, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica, speaking via a video recording, reaffirmed Jamaica’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of migrant workers and their families. Migration was an integral part of Jamaica’s national experience, and the State continued to prioritise policies that promoted safe, orderly, and regular migration, in alignment with international standards.
Jamaica had introduced several key policy initiatives and programmes aimed at ensuring the fair treatment and protection of migrant workers, particularly in the areas of labour mobility, social protection, and anti-exploitation measures. The State maintained long-standing bilateral labour agreements with countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, which facilitated the annual employment of thousands of Jamaican workers, particularly in agriculture, construction and hospitality. These agreements were routinely reviewed and strengthened to improve working conditions, ensure fair wages, and secure access to social benefits.
Jamaica was home to a growing number of migrant workers, primarily from the Caribbean, who contributed significantly to sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare and tourism. The State’s labour laws provided core protections, including equal pay, non-discrimination and workplace safety, in accordance with international standards. Efforts were underway to streamline the work permit process to make it more efficient and accessible, ensuring that migrant workers were able to work legally and benefit from the protections to which they were entitled.
Jamaica maintained a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of exploitation, including trafficking in persons. The National Task Force against Trafficking in Persons continued to spearhead national efforts in prevention, prosecution and victim support. The State had strengthened monitoring systems to identify and prevent exploitative labour practices and had expanded training for immigration and law enforcement officials, to improve their capacity to identify, investigate and respond to trafficking cases, including those involving migrant workers.
Despite this progress, challenges remained, including expanding access to social protection for all migrant workers, regardless of their status, and strengthening data collection to improve policy responses to migration trends. Jamaica remained fully committed to enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation to improve labour migration frameworks, continuing efforts to prevent exploitation and trafficking in persons, and ensuring timely and effective engagement with international mechanisms, including the Committee.
TYESHA TURNER, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and head of the delegation, said the delegation appreciated the patience of the Committee on the issue of the submission of the report. It had been hoped that the report would be submitted prior to the dialogue, however, Jamaica aimed to submit the report by the time the dialogue concluded. Jamaica regretted the delay in submitting the report but hoped that the delegation’s appearance before the Committee was evidence of the State’s commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of migrant workers.
The liquidity crisis continued to impact the treaty bodies, including the Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers, and the lack of hybrid services had an impact on small island developing States. Jamaica would consult with members of the delegation in Kingston to provide all information necessary to the Committee.
Questions by Committee Experts
JASMINKA DZUMHUR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the concluding observations of the Committee could only be based on what was discussed today. In these circumstances it was difficult to have a constructive dialogue, and it was hoped lessons would be learnt from this process. Could more information be provided on Jamaica’s national action plan on development? How did this plan relate to migrants? Could information be provided on the medium-term socio-economic policy framework? Which new strategic documents had been adopted related to the combatting of trafficking in persons?
What was the status of the ratification of International Labour Organization Conventions? How many migrants were on the territory of Jamaica? From which countries? Had there been any progress relating to the establishment of the national human rights institution? How much coordination was undertaken with civil society organizations? What was the mechanism for the protection of trafficking victims? What did the system include? What kinds of measures and activities were in place to support victims? What information was available on cases of trafficking in children? Had any perpetrators been brought to justice?
The Committee had received information that those approaching Jamaica by boat were detained in one house in poor conditions, with families separated from their children; could the delegation comment on this? Could information be provided on existing legislation related to asylum seekers and their protection? Was there any option which allowed undocumented migrants to work?
PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked about the labour agreements in place between Jamacia and the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom; what kind of agreements were in place with these countries at this point? How did the provisions affect Jamaican migrant workers in those countries? What kind of consular diplomatic representation did Jamaica have in those countries? What were the main challenges faced and what was the State party doing to address these challenges? Did Jamaica provide legal support, consular assistance, repatriations etc? How many Jamaicans were working abroad?
The Committee had received substantive information that people came to Jamaica from Haiti and Cuba in search of work; these were undocumented migrants who were protected under the Convention. How was the Convention invoked when dealing with these people? The Committee had heard there was detention and collective expulsions of these people, and their children were not provided with education; could the delegation comment on these allegations? What efforts was the State undertaking to provide education for children of undocumented migrant workers? What measures was Jamaica taking to prevent these workers from being exploited and to provide them with a decent wage?
ERMAL FRASHERI, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked if there were any issues Jamacia had which arose from enforcing the Convention? Was there anything the State believed that the United Nations mechanisms, including the Committee, could do to help?
MAMANE OUMARIA, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, commended the Jamaican delegation for travelling to Geneva for the dialogue. Without the report, it was difficult to ask questions. Jamaica was a country of origin of migration. The State had established an effective protection mechanism for Jamaican migrants abroad, through consular missions. Was there a protection mechanism in place for domestic workers? What difficulties did Jamaican migrant workers face when they travelled to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom? Had Jamaica established a national human rights commission? Was it operational? Did it hold A Status?
A Committee Expert asked about the Haitian population. The depth of the crisis Haiti faced had led to growing migration across the region. How was the State treating this population? Were there any initiatives from the Caribbean Community to support these people? What types of policies and measures were developed to protect Haitian migrants abroad? What were the consulates doing to assist Jamaican nationals living abroad? What support was being given to families regarding the arbitrary migration policies implemented by the United Kingdom, including in response to the Windrush scandal?
Another Committee Expert asked if Jamaica expected more deportations from the United States? What were the reasons for these deportations? What tools did the State have to counter these problems? There was a large community of Jamaicans in the United States; was this community disturbed by the behaviour of the host Government?
One Expert congratulated Jamaica on ratifying eight out of the 10 basic International Labour Organization Conventions. However, there were two which had not been ratified, including the Convention on Labour Inspection. Did the State have a labour inspection body? Did this body have effective resources to carry out its tasks? Did the country intend to ratify both Conventions? What measures had the State party taken to avoid and combat discrimination against migrants?
A Committee Expert said it was necessary to submit a written report prior to the dialogue, to ensure it could be constructive. The non-submission of a report prevailed over the presence of the State for a constructive dialogue. Without the report, the Committee had limited information. The non-submission of the report was a violation of an obligation, and also violated the rights of all citizens to know whether the State was standing by its international obligations. Had something been done to ensure irregular immigration was not criminalised? Was there a law regulating the protection of asylum seekers and refugees? What had Jamaica done to eradicate statelessness in the State party?
Another Committee Expert asked what type of services were provided by consular services to Jamaican migrants abroad? Did they extend to the elections in Jamaica? Did the consular offices provide migrant workers from Jamaica with the opportunity to participate in the elections?
An Expert commended the Jamaican delegation for being present in Geneva to submit the report. Jamaica’s Minister should be congratulated for supporting the Committee’s values and principles on migration as a driver for sustainable and economic development. Could information be provided on legal aid for unaccompanied or separated children of migrant workers who had run into trouble with the law? Were there procedures to promote the social reinsertion of these children?
What healthcare protection did children of migrant workers have? Were there specific data indicators on the children of migrant workers? Jamaica had deployed a campaign with the International Labour Organization which showed the State’s willingness to eliminate child labour and exploitation. Was there disaggregated statistical data on the economic exploitation of migrants or separated children?
A Committee Expert said not having a report was a violation of the Convention and a missed opportunity. Was the Convention and its provisions relied upon in the courts of Jamaica? Did the case law of the courts refer to the Convention or to the rights of migrant workers in general? What impact did this have on the legal order? What safeguards were available to migrant workers? What practical measures existed to ensure bilateral obligations were complied with?
What was the situation in practice when it came to implementing the bilateral agreements? What was the scope of the social protection mechanisms available to migrant workers? What kind of challenges existed? What category of migrant workers were affected by these challenges? What strategies existed for vulnerable migrant workers to access social protection? What efforts were being deployed to protect seasonal, agricultural and domestic workers?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Jamaica was a dualist State and as such did not have automatic incorporation of the Convention into law. However, Jamaica had several acts which covered the provisions of the Convention. Jamaica emphasised through public information campaigns, the Conventions which it had ratified. Jamaica had ratified Convention 189 on domestic workers and was currently working on amending the employment, termination and redundancy act and the minimum wage act, to ensure the provisions of the Convention were properly covered. The minimum wage act meant no employer could go below the minimum wage stipulated. There were labour inspectors employed across the entire island to ensure the minimum wage and other provisions were being adhered to.
Jamaica regretted that the report was not completed on time and would endeavour to ensure this was not a repeated occurrence. The creation of a national human rights institution was under review and the State was committed to pursuing the creation of this mechanism.
Jamaica had a regulated framework in place for money transfers and remittances. The Bank of Jamaica regulated these providers. Only entities licensed by the Bank of Jamaica were authorised to receive and send remittances. These providers were strategically located at approved service points.
At this point, Jamaica was not considering the decriminalisation of irregular migrants. However, everyone who entered Jamaica was afforded protection. The labour inspectorate in Jamaica currently inspected various workplaces to ensure compliance. Jamaica was currently in the process of reviewing its labour officers (powers) act, with the intention to amend that act and put forward a recommendation for the approval to ratify part two of Convention 181. Jamaica was actively in the process of completing a gap analysis with the International Labour Organization with the view to ratifying Convention 190.
The 2019 diaspora policy had been updated in 2022. The State now had a paternity leave policy, created in 2023. Jamaica faced challenges with data collection. A recruitment drive had been undertaken to appoint more judges to clear the backlog of cases, particularly when it came to migrant workers.
Jamaica had tabled its migration and development policy in 2017, which had been informed by civil society organizations. These groups played an active role in the reintegration of involuntarily returned migrants, working with Government agencies to meet with the migrants who were arriving, collecting data from the migrants, and providing them with basic social services. Civil society played a key role in settling involuntary returnees and integrating them back into the Jamaican society.
There had been public outreach regarding the Windrush situation, and the State had responded appropriately to those who came forward as a result. There was a dedicated department to provide consular services for Jamaicans abroad. Through a network of over 20 embassies, high commissions and consular generals, Jamaica made every effort to ensure that those detained overseas were supported. The consular offices notified families of the persons detained or under arrest, obtained information about the status of the cases, provided families with a list of local lawyers if available, and facilitated the transfer of funds to a detained person, among other services. Jamaica had undertaken efforts to expand the network of counsels, particularly in areas where many Jamaicans visited.
There was no collective expulsion of migrant workers from any nationality and no use of arbitrary detention of migrant workers and their families in Jamaica. All detentions of migrants of any category were pursuant to the judicial or administrative processes outlined in Jamaican law. Any deprivation of liberty must be carried out in line with due process and was subject to judicial oversight.
Jamaica had bilateral working arrangements in place with Canada and the United States, although the agreement with the United States was not a written agreement and was more of an understanding. Many Jamaicans had travelled to the United Kingdom after World War II to work, but there was no current bilateral agreement in place with the United Kingdom.
A seasonal agricultural workers programme was in place with Canada, which had been created in 1966 and re-signed in 1995. A memorandum of understanding had been established to enabled Jamaicans to travel to Canada and work. Each worker was required to sign an employment contract which entitled them to lodgements, meals, and payment of wages. The contracts of employment were available online. Jamaica had appointed liaison officers in Canada, across four offices, where the largest concentrations of workers were located. Each worker, upon departing from Jamaica, was assigned a liaison officer. They were available to assist workers on a 24-hour basis, and conducted predominantly unannounced visits to the farms to monitor working situations.
Questions by Committee Experts
JASMINKA DZUMHUR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked about migrants approaching Jamaica from Cuba by boat; how were they treated when they did not have documents? How did the State return them? What happened to those who were found undocumented in Jamaica? Where were they sent? Who provided legal aid to migrants? Were there any strategic plans for communicating with the diaspora? How were those who returned to Jamaica reintegrated back into society?
PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked if there were special banks established to facilitate the return of voluntary and non-voluntary migrants? Was there an institutional set up which handled the concerns of irregular migrants? Where could irregular migrants seek redress? How was birth registration handled in regard to irregular migrants?
A Committee Expert asked about the outcomes of the programme launched with the United Nations Development Programme on migration and development 10 years ago?
FATIMATA DIALLO, Committee Chair, said it would be appreciated if the State could send the report before the conclusion of the dialogue.
At the beginning of the second day of the dialogue, Ms. Diallo thanked the delegation of Jamaica for submitting the combined initial and second periodic report.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Jamaica noted the concern raised by the Committee relating to the lack of local legislation for asylum seekers. However, Jamaica maintained its treaty obligations under the national refugee policy. Migrants were screened by health officials and received treatment if necessary, and were provided with food and water, as well as a translator if needed. Jamaica had demonstrated compliance with its policy, as evidenced by 70 per cent of those who had applied for asylum and had had their applications heard.
Jamaica took note of the Committee’s concerns regarding the treatment of Haitian asylum seekers; however, Jamaica maintained a strong rights-based approach towards discrimination, and this was applied to nationals from all countries. A group of 37 Haitian nationals who had arrived in July 2023 were given immediate refugee status and were currently in Jamaica under Government care while their applications were being processed.
All children born in Jamaica were entitled to birth registration under Jamaican law. All migrant children who were arrested were given due process, including legal representation and access to medical care. All children were treated equally in Jamaica; there was no mention of race in any acts pertaining to children. The child diversion committee and act incorporated safeguards to protect children and prevented the commencement of criminal proceedings against children while they were enrolled in the programme.
Jamaica had put measures in place to facilitate the free movement and entry of skilled nationals from the Caribbean Community into its territory. The Government of Jamaica conducted routine inspections to ensure fair labour standards for all workers, including migrants. Jamaican law guaranteed equal treatment for all, and migrant workers were to be treated no differently than Jamaican nationals.
Jamaican law treated irregular migrants as being in breach of detention law, and when they were detained, their rights were enshrined within the Jamaican Constitution. Irregular migrants were held at local police stations, usually close to their place of entry. Migrants would be interviewed to determine if they could speak English and if necessary, an interpreter would be provided. If possible, the consular representative would be contacted. If a person requested to apply for refugee status, they could not be removed from Jamaica until this application was considered, regardless of their nationality or means of entering the country. The State did not seek to criminalise those in irregular migration. There was no cross-contamination of migrants with convicted men and women, even if they were housed in correctional facilities. An independent body was tasked with investigating any accusations of unlawful actions by law enforcement.
The Jamaican Government was aware that although progress had been made over the year to improve the facilities, more needed to be done. The facility at Camp Cape Clare was used to house foreign nationals, and had been repeatedly utilised by the United Kingdom’s Peace Corps. Two large rooms had been refurbished, and it was ensured that proper care was provided to the migrants residing there, in line with international standards. Food items were delivered every week and distributed daily by the manager, with food cooked each day. A private security was contracted to work on the centre, to ensure the migrants living there were safe.
Workers who participated in the seasonal workers programme were covered by a range of benefits, including maternity allowance, a retirement pension, an invalidity benefit, and a spousal allowance. Jamaica had signed social security arrangements with several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Quebec and the 12 Caribbean Community States.
It was ensured that schools were equipped to provide education to children from all backgrounds, including migrant children. International migration was mobilised to support Jamaica’s national development. It should be facilitated and managed to benefit the families. The national policy aimed to ensure that migration was a matter of choice, and to strengthen legislation around migration.
The State faced challenges in the delivery of consular services, due to a lack of resources on the ground and limited data to track Jamaican nationals overseas. In 2024, Jamaica launched the diaspora register act which enabled every Jamaican working overseas to register via their smartphones.
The aliens act did not automatically confer a suspensive action on appeal. Legal assistance was available to those who could not pay for legal representation themselves, through the Legal Aid Council. Jamaica did not pursue repatriation arbitrarily, nor was it a punitive measure, but rather an administrative procedure governed under the rule of law and in line with international human rights standards. The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency was the lead agency responsible for coordinating these procedures. Where it was possible, the Government encouraged and facilitated voluntary returns, including by offering predeparture counselling and reintegration assistance.
Jamaica’s trafficking in persons act was amended in 2021 to remove the option of fines for sentencing. The State was party to the Palermo Protocol and was now considering bilateral cooperation avenues. Hotlines were available to provide services to potential victims, and a unit had been created within the Office of the Children’s Advocate which provided a 24/7 phone line. Many ministries, including the Ministry of Tourism, had received training on how to recognise cases of human trafficking. More than 60 doctors across Jamaica had also been trained in this regard. The Jamaican legislation was premised on non-discrimination.
Questions by Committee Experts
JASMINKA DZUMHUR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, thanked the delegation for the huge efforts made to prepare responses to the Committee’s questions. What was the status of the national human rights institution? Had the State asked the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Children’s Fund to provide technical assistance in the process of reporting? It was good that the forum for the diaspora had been established; what could returning Jamaicans expect when they returned to the country?
ERMAL FRASHERI, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, appreciated the submission of the combined initial and second report. What types of inconsistencies did Jamaica find when it reviewed State legislation against the Convention? Jamaica should be congratulated on the State’s various training programmes for officials. Were there specific training programmes on the Convention? Who provided these trainings?
PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, congratulated Jamaica on the submission of the report and for the State’s professional responses. It was recognised that Jamaica had an interministerial committee on human rights and a national working group on national migration and development. These were good institutions in which the State could provide and implement best practices. When employment agencies were monitored, was there a cap on what they could charge? How was this monitored? Did the Committee which monitored the human rights treaty bodies have the power to provide recommendations to the Government? Launching the app for the diaspora was a commendable act; how did this work? Was there a mechanism to monitor and respond to the app?
A Committee Expert said Jamaica had set up a law on the protection of children in 2004 and had several protection programmes, including one which assessed the living conditions of children and recommended the type of assistance to be provided to those children. How were those programmes prepared and follow-up guaranteed? Did the law on the protection of children take into account migrant, unaccompanied and separated children?
As part of its prerogatives, the Ombudsman’s office for children was obliged to submit a report to parliament which was an excellent initiative; it reflected the State’s commitment and political will to the protection of children. Was this report in line with the treaty body provisions, regarding the children of migrant workers. The age of 16 was the cut off age for sexual consent; what was the harmonisation of the law with human trafficking and sexual exploitation? Could more information be provided about the definition of illegal minors?
An Expert asked what the real accurate figures on the diaspora were?
A Committee Expert said Jamaica was one of the few countries that had ratified International Labour Organization Convention 189, and the Committee thanked them for this. What type of training was provided to the various labour inspectorates? What training or capacity building was provided to the administration which dealt with labour, force and work? What was the role of the labour inspectorate?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Jamaica was committed to pursue the development of a national human rights institution for the promotion and protection of human rights. Over 331 police officers had been trained on human trafficking topics, including victim care and identification, and the psychological impact of human trafficking, among other topics. In 2023, there were three convictions of persons involved in human trafficking, and two in 2024.
Employment agencies for persons heading overseas could only charge a maximum of 4,000 Jamaican dollars for assistance, and any more could see them brought before the courts. The International Organization for Migration had spent time with Jamaican private employment agencies to provide training regarding integrity in recruitment. Workers were sensitised on how to treat migrant related issues.
The interministerial committee on human rights was comprised of 19 ministries and agencies from the Jamaican Government. The members of the Committee served as the core contacts for human rights issues in their respective ministries and agencies. This involved sensitising and sharing information on human rights, working on developing a human rights strategy, and preparing Jamaica’s national report to the Human Rights Council and human rights treaty bodies, among others.
It was recognised that returning migrants could contribute to the country’s development. Jamaica had implemented several initiatives to facilitate the return and reintegration of voluntary and involuntary returnees. Data was collected on the returnees, which allowed for the evaluation of the cohorts regarding the types of services provide to them. Services provided included training and reskilling, career guidance workshops, skill development programmes, and job opportunities.
Efforts were currently underway to amend the minimum wage act to ensure domestic workers were provided with the protections outlined in the Convention. This remained a priority for the Government. Efforts had recently been made
to increase the number of labour officers to serve the general public.
The cabinet was required to review any amendments to laws prior to them being amended. Jamaica understood that much of the language in current legislation did not align with international obligations, and was currently reviewing acts, including the aliens act in this regard.
Closing Remarks
JASMINKA DZUMHUR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the delegation had made an extraordinary effort to answer all questions and provide as much information as possible. It was hoped that the next periodic report would come on time. The biggest challenge was the size of the State and the many international obligations, but Jamaica was encouraged to establish strong mechanisms. Ms. Dzumhur extended best wishes to all the migrants on the territory of Jamaica.
ERMAL FRASHERI, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, congratulated Jamaica on the dialogue. It was recommended that Jamaica take all steps to ensure that the Convention was implemented and enforced within the country’s legal system. The State should make use of the Committee as it was ready to provide assistance in understanding the Convention and building capacities on the ground. The Committee stood ready to continue its collaboration with Jamaica.
MAMANE OUMARIA, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, commended the Jamaican delegation for its hard work, considering that the report was not submitted within the deadline. It was hoped next time the document could be provided beforehand, as it was important for the interactive dialogue. It was important that Jamaica established the national human rights institution in the country.
PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, thanked Jamaica for the professional and constructive dialogue. It was a challenging time for migrants’ rights and this interaction was very important. Jamaica had a vibrant history and had a special role to play in setting standards in the region and the world. The Committee’s concluding observations would reflect the push for improvement.
FATIMATA DIALLO, Committee Chair, said the dialogue had been fruitful and commended Jamaica for the efforts undertaken. The Committee always sought for improvement, which would include receiving the report on time. This would allow the best possible concluding observations to be provided.
TYESHA TURNER, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the constructive dialogue and all those who had made the dialogue possible. Jamaica welcomed the opportunity to rise to the challenges with the Committee. The State apologised for the delay in submitting the report and recognised the importance of complying with its obligations. Jamaica would continue to work to ensure that all migrant workers and members of their families enjoyed the full protection of their rights. Ms. Turner thanked the Jamaican team who had travelled to Geneva and those who had followed the dialogue from Jamaica.
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