Labour Ministry working to increase US visas granted to Jamaicans for seasonal work programmes

The Labour Ministry is redoubling its efforts to increase the share of visas granted to Jamaicans for participation in the seasonal agricultural and hospitality programmes in the United States.

 

Labour Minister Karl Samuda and a ministry team hosted a meeting with representatives from the United States Embassy to discuss the current visa arrangements under which Jamaicans are able to participate under both components of the programme.

 

Approximately 5000 Jamaican agricultural workers travel to the U-S each year to engage in a variety of farming activities including planting and harvesting of fruit and vegetable crops.

 

While placement on the Agricultural (H2A) component of the programme is exclusively managed by the Ministry of Labour, placement on the Hospitality (H2B) component is facilitated both by the government and private employment agencies licensed to operate by the ministry.

 

The ministry says this component has experienced steady growth over the years, with the exception of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic forced drastic reductions in the hospitality industry.

 

In 2022, approximately 12,000 Jamaicans obtained employment through the H2B programme.

 

In recognizing the value of the programme to both the US and Jamaican economies, Mr Samuda said the ministry wants to ensure that Jamaica’s presence in the US benefits both Jamaica and the United States.

 

The Labour Minister emphasized that Jamaica stands ready to supply significantly more workers.

 

The head of the US delegation, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, Julie Stufft confirmed that the overseas employment programme and the Jamaican workers were highly valued by the us government and the participating employers.

 

Ms. Stufft assured the Jamaican team that her office would engage the relevant US government departments to explore recommendations for the expansions being sought by Jamaica.

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