Employment and labor laws vary from country to country. This guide is intended to provide the most up to date information available. We will update this guide as needed when changes are made to the laws.
Employment Contracts
Employers are legally required to provide formal written contracts for all employees that include salary/wage, termination terms, job title, etc. The contracts must be written in English and use the Jamaican Dollar currency (JMD).
Working Hours
Full-time employment is considered 40 hours weekly and is generally 8 hours per day.
Seven days a week, including Sunday, are now considered working days in Jamacia, 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%.
Public Holidays
The government decides each year if public holidays falling on a weekend will be moved to a working day in lieu.
For the year 2024:
- 1 Jan: New Year’s Day (Monday)
- 14 Feb: Ash Wednesday (Wednesday)
- 29 Mar: Good Friday (Friday)
- 1 Apr: Easter Monday (Monday)
- 23 May: Labour Day (Thursday)
- 1 Aug: Emancipation Day (Thursday)
- 6 Aug: Independence Day (Tuesday)
- 21 Oct: National Heroes Day (Monday)
- 25 Dec: Christmas Day (Wednesday)
- 26 Dec: Boxing Day (Thursday)
Annual Leave (vacation)
Employees are granted two weeks of paid leave per year. Three weeks of paid leave is given to employees with over ten years of continuous service.
Sick Leave
Employees are granted two weeks (10 working days) of paid leave per year. Three weeks (15 working days) of paid leave is given to employees with over ten years of continuous service.
Maternity and Paternity
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.
Paternal Leave
There is no statutory requirement for parental leave in Jamacia.
Other Leave
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.
Employee Severance and Terminations
Termination Process
Employers can terminate a fix term contract by giving the following reasons – business, personal, or worker’s misconduct. It requires notice and a written explanation for the termination. If the reason is misconduct, a warning needs to be given, and the employee gets a chance to explain actions.
Notice Period
The minimum amount of working notice or termination pay in lieu of notice required under Section 63 is determined by the length of employment as follows:
- Up to 5 years of employment entitles workers to 2 weeks’ notice.
- 5-10 years of service entitles workers to four weeks’ notice.
- 10-15 years of service entitles workers to 6 weeks’ notice.
- 15-20 years of service workers to 8 weeks’ notice.
- 20 + years of service workers to 12 weeks’ notice.
Severance Pay
Severance pay is only required for cases of redundancy. Severance pay for redundancy is calculated at two weeks’ pay per year for the first ten years of service and after that, increases to three weeks’ pay per year.
Probation Period
There is no statutory requirement for a probationary period in Jamacia. However, collective agreements generally stipulate a 3 to 6-month probation period.
Payroll Cycle
Salaries are paid on either a monthly or semi-monthly basis.
The weekly minimum wage in Jamaica is 13,000 JMD, (based on a 40 hour week).
13th Salary
There is no statutory requirement for a 13th-month salary in Jamacia.
Contributions
Employer Payroll Contributions
VISA
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 turnaround time for the approval of a work permit is approximately 4 – 6 weeks.
VAT
The standard rate of GCT in Jamacia is 15.00%.