Charles urges Jamaica to shift from talk to action on productivity
Published:Friday | August 15, 2025 | 12:25 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. believes that Jamaica has the potential not just to catch up but to lead the region in productivity – if the nation adopts a productivity-focused mindset and embraces cultural change.
Speaking on Thursday at the 2025 National Productivity Forum at the Terra Nova Hotel in St Andrew, where he launched the Government’s new Productivity Toolkit, Charles emphasised the need to move beyond discussions and focus on measurable results.
“Jamaica has the capacity to match and surpass what is happening across the region – and that must be our goal,” he said. “We must, as a collective, spare no effort to close the gap on productivity. Once we do so, I dare say that we can focus the next five to 10 years on being more productive and actually get it done by 2030, 2035.”
Despite positive macroeconomic indicators, including record-low unemployment of 3.5 per cent and an unprecedented national poverty rate of 8.2 per cent, Jamaica continues to lag behind its Latin American and Caribbean counterparts in labour productivity, recording an average growth of just 0.3 per cent annually.
According to Charles, the gap is not due to a lack of talent or a failure to understand technology.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that the country properly defines productivity, knows how to be productive, and gets the support needed to move along the productivity pathway,” he stated.
He emphasised that the era of endless discussion must give way to measurable impact.
“Coming out of World Productivity Day in June, we committed to moving from intention to impact. That means equipping individuals, businesses, and institutions to shift from conversation to execution,” he said.
Turning to the launch of the toolkits, he said the initiative reflects a strategic push to fix productivity into Jamaica’s national DNA – how people think, work, and lead.
The newly launched Productivity Toolkit, developed by the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC), is designed to empower students, businesses, and public-sector entities to assess and improve their productivity in a measurable, user-friendly way.
“This toolkit is not something to shelve,” Charles warned. “It must be used. The information we are providing should become part of your daily routine.”
Digital innovation
Charles also highlighted the importance of embracing digital innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance productivity, not to replace workers, but to free them up for more meaningful tasks.
“Don’t be afraid of AI,” he urged. “Used effectively, it means we can do more in less time, allowing our teams to focus on what really moves the needle.”
JPC Chairman Omar Azan echoed the minister’s sentiments, noting that Jamaica’s productivity challenge is not only technical but deeply cultural.
“We don’t just want to look at numbers – we want to look at mindset,” Azan said. “A resilient, innovative, and collaborative culture empowers us to overcome challenges and drive sustainable growth.”
He applauded the JPC team for their hands-on approach to the toolkit, describing it as a “boots on the ground” solution to one of the nation’s most persistent economic challenges.
Azan also called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to support productivity-driven development, citing global models like Singapore and Japan.
“Think – if we are a productive nation, can you imagine the investors that would want to invest in Jamaica? Can you imagine the salary structures that Jamaica would have, different from what we currently have now? Imagine the level of investment, innovation, and competitiveness we could unlock,” he said.
Charles, in the meantime, made a national appeal for productivity at all levels of society.
“To all business leaders, make productivity central to your company culture. To educators, teach with discipline, inspire with purpose. To public servants, let us lead by example. ... To every Jamaican worker, … productivity is not someone else’s business or responsibility. It belongs to you.”
Dionne Jennings Whyte, permanent secretary in the labour ministry, explained that the toolkits are tailored for students at all levels as well as businesses and public-sector institutions. They include a clear productivity scoring system to help users assess their current performance, identify areas for growth, and take actionable steps towards improvement.
“These are not just theoretical frameworks,” Jennings Whyte said. “They are practical tools that can empower users to work smarter, embrace innovation, and deliver better outcomes.”