Jamaica seeks to expand overseas employment programmes in US

The Government of Jamaica is pressing ahead with efforts to expand the H-2A and H-2B United States work visa programmes.

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson, held discussions with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Colette Roberts Risden, to examine the current state and future expansion of Jamaica’s overseas employment programmes.

The meeting, held at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, DC, focused on the critical importance of the H-2A and H-2B visa programmes to Jamaica’s economic stability and the livelihoods of rural communities across the island, programmes that have so far remained intact amid the broader immigration crackdown.

Roberts Risden, who holds oversight responsibility for overseas employment programmes in the US and Canada, provided Anderson with a comprehensive update on emerging opportunities for Jamaican workers. Of particular note were new pathways for Jamaican commercial driver’s licence holders and workers trained in heavy machinery and equipment operation, sectors where English proficiency requirements align favourably with Jamaica’s workforce capabilities.

Anderson underscored the enduring significance of the bilateral labour partnership.

“Jamaica’s overseas employment programmes continue to be a pillar of economic resilience for our Jamaican workers and rural communities. Through our long-standing partnership with the United States, the embassy remains committed to expanding safe, orderly, and mutually beneficial labour pathways, especially as we rebuild and create new opportunities in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa,” he said.

The discussions acknowledged the programme’s deep historical roots, dating back to 1943 when the first cohort of Jamaican workers arrived in the US during World War II to address critical labour shortages. This partnership has evolved over eight decades into one of the most successful bilateral labour arrangements in the Western Hemisphere.

Recent programme statistics reflect the continued strength of this relationship. In the last programme year, approximately 5,000 Jamaican workers were employed seasonally in the US agricultural sector under the H-2A visa programme. Additionally, more than 12,000 Jamaican workers participated in the H-2B visa programme, contributing to the American hospitality and landscaping industries.

Beyond employment placement, the US has provided Jamaica with substantial technical assistance across multiple areas critical to labour governance. This support has encompassed Labour Market Information Systems, child labour prevention initiatives, occupational safety and health protocols, and programmes addressing trafficking in persons.

The meeting took on added significance, given Jamaica’s ongoing recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Both officials agreed that the overseas employment programmes represent a vital mechanism for economic recovery, providing Jamaican workers with income-earning opportunities that directly benefit families and communities affected by the natural disaster.

Roberts Risden was accompanied by liaison officers Sheldon Brown and Karlene Brown, who provide direct support to Jamaican workers participating in the overseas employment programmes. Aliecia Taylor, minister counsellor for trade and economic affairs at the embassy, also attended the meeting.