Charles bats for disabled persons farm work programme

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr, said discussions are being held with stakeholders with a view to integrating more persons with disabilities in the overseas farm work programme.

Two persons have already been recruited and are now making preparations to depart Jamaica.

Charles said the ministry is actively striving to increase the number of participants so that more persons will be able to access overseas employment opportunities.

"I made a commitment to ensure that persons with disabilities are integrated into as many programmes as possible. One of the programmes that I thought would be practical for them is our farm work programme, the overseas employment programme. We have taken the time to reach out to employers and stakeholders and they have embraced and welcomed the concept," he said.

"I am expecting that the impact from this will be, not only the increased opportunities for persons with disabilities but just showing persons that the fact that you are saddled with the challenge doesn't mean that you can't also excel; and it definitely doesn't mean that you also won't get the opportunities.

"I'm looking forward to this being a positive for persons with disabilities [and] a positive for the employers because they are going to work very hard, and [that's] a positive for Jamaica," Charles said.