Talent Wiki - Jamaica
Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Jamaica
Capital
Kingston
Currency
Jamaican Dollar (JMD)
Languages
English, Jamaican Patois
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$6172.77
Employer Tax
12.5%
Talent Overview
Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea with the third most English speaking population in the Americas. The country is the 46th freest economy in the world and 7th among 32 countries in the Americas. Its economy is mostly based on the services sector which makes up 70% of the country’s GDP while the industry sector (mining, manufacturing) make up 21% of its economy.
Major economic hubs:
Kingston, Portmore, Montego Bay
Skills in demand:
ICT Professionals, Financial Professionals, Manufacturing Professionals, Tourism Professionals
Local Universities
Top local universities in Jamaica are;
University of Technology, Jamaica
Ranking:
Local: 1
World: 5649
Northern Caribbean University
Ranking:
Local: 2
World: 5931
The University of the West Indies, Mona
Ranking:
Local: 3
World: 6705
University of the Commonwealth Caribbean
Ranking:
Local: 4
World: 7225
Mico University College
Ranking:
Local: 5
World: 10475
Salary Data
The table below mentions the average monthly salary in Jamaica;
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (in JMD) | Average Monthly Salary (in USD) |
| Financial Manager | 196,000 | 1295.07 |
| General Manager | 171,000 | 1129.89 |
| Business Development Manager | 164,000 | 1083.63 |
| Financial Analyst | 131,000 | 865.59 |
| Business Analyst | 129,000 | 852.37 |
| Project Manager | 113,000 | 746.65 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Top Local Job Boards:
Caribbean Jobs Online, Career Jamaica, Jamaican Jobs Online
Number of LinkedIn users:
654,400
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Employing in Jamaica
Hiring in Jamaica requires you to be aware of the local employment laws, benefits, payroll, and taxes. Below is everything the employer needs to know to successfully onboard talents from Jamaica.
Employee Contract
Contracts in Jamaica can either be written or oral. However, the best practice is to provide a written contract in English with all the provisions and details for employment.
Probation Period
The probationary period for new employees ranges from 3 to 6 months.
Public and Provincial Holidays
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Public Holiday |
| 2 Jan | Day off for New Year’s Day | Public Holiday |
| 22 Feb | Ash Wednesday | Public Holiday |
| 7 Apr | Good Friday | Public Holiday |
| 10 Apr | Easter Monday | Public Holiday |
| 23 May | Labor Day / May Day | Public Holiday |
| 1 Aug | Emancipation Day | Public Holiday |
| 6 Aug | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
| 7 Aug | Day off for Independence Day | Public Holiday |
| 16 Oct | National Heroes’ Day | Public Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Public Holiday |
| 26 Dec | Boxing Day | Public Holiday |
Employee Leaves
| Type of leave | Time period | Mandatory |
| Annual leave/Earned Leave | 14 to 21 days | Yes |
| Sick Leave | 10 days (After 110 days of service) | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 84 days | Yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
Employees in Jamaica are paid on a monthly basis.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Jamaica except for security guards is JMD 9,000.00 per week. For private security guards, the minimum wage is JMD 10,500.00.
Overtime Pay
The standard working hours in Jamaica are 40 hours across 7 days. Overtime pay in Jamaica is usually 150% of the normal wage. For holidays and weekends, overtime pay is 200% above the normal wage. There is no limit to overtime hours. However, women have a limit of 50 total working hours per week and not more than 200 overtime hours for 12 months.
Bonus
13th Month Pay
The 13th-month pay is not mandatory in Jamaica.
Employee Benefits
Full-time employees in Jamaica are ensured to have insurance benefits such as
- Old Age Pension
- Advance and Alimentary Allowance
- Housing Benefits
- Education Grants
- Health Insurance
- Life Insurance
Taxes
Employer Payroll Tax
| Contribution | Basis | Rate (%) |
| Education Tax | Taxable emoluments | 3.5 |
| National Housing Trust Contributions | Gross emoluments | 3 |
| National Insurance Scheme Contributions | Gross emoluments up to a maximum of JMD 1.5 million annually | 3 |
| HEART Contributions | Gross emoluments | 3 |
| Total | 12.5 |
Employee Payroll Tax
| Contribution | Basis | Rate (%) |
| Education Tax | Taxable emoluments | 2.25 |
| National Housing Trust Contributions | Gross emoluments | 2 |
| National Insurance Scheme Contributions | Gross emoluments up to a maximum of JMD 1.5 million annually | 3 |
| Total | 7.25 |
Employee Income Tax
| Taxable Income | Rate (%) |
| Up to JMD 6,000,000.00 | 25 |
| More than JMD 6,000,000.00 | 30 |
*Tax-free threshold of JMD 1,500,000.00 annually for tax resident individuals
VAT
The standard VAT in Jamaica is 15%.
Offboarding & Termination
Employers must provide written notice for terminating employees. The employees can pay in lieu while the process of dismissal is ongoing. Resignation without providing notice is illegal under the Labour Code of Jamaica in which employees are entitled to additional payments.
Employees associated with the employer for at least four consecutive weeks are must serve a notice period varying with the total length of service, as given below:
| Length of service | Notice period |
| Less than 5 years | 2 weeks |
| 5 years – 10 years | 4 weeks |
| 10 years – 15 years | 6 weeks |
| 15 years – 20 years | 8 weeks |
| More than 20 years | 12 weeks |
The severance pay is legally required for redundancy cases for employees with 104 weeks tenure (2 years) in Jamaica. The payments amount to depending on the tenure of the employee:
- 2 weeks’ pay per year of service for first 10 years of service
- 3 weeks’ pay per year of service from the 10th year of service
Visa and Immigration
Applying for a business visa to Jamaica is easy. However, travellers (looking to work in Jamaica) must obtain a work permit or work permit exemption from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in order to enter the country. For business travellers, different documentation is needed as per country. You can contact the Jamaican embassy or consulate in your country for more details.
