When you start working in a new country, you have plenty of tasks to focus on. You may not have as much time to focus on running your company, which is why you need talented employees you can rely on. But do you know how to recruit and hire Jamaica employees successfully?
G-P knows that recruiting, hiring, and onboarding can be challenging in a new country. We offer Jamaica hiring outsourcing services to make it easy for companies to expand without worrying about compliance. Our team will recruit top candidates or onboard your preferred choices to our Jamaica PEO, all while handling Jamaica employment compliance as the Employer of Record.
Recruiting in Jamaica
There are two main methods for how to advertise your open positions. The first is posting your jobs in the classified sections of the two biggest newspapers — the Jamaica Gleaner and the Jamaica Observer. Both publish online and in print, so you can decide which option is best for you. The other alternative is to use specific job search portals, including:
- Caribbean Jobs Jamaica
- Jamaican Medium
- Jamaican Jobs Online
- Career Jamaica Jobs
- Splash Jamaica
- Go Jamaica Job Smart
Before posting advertisements on your website or any other medium, you should hire human resources staff to comb through applications. They will also need to be available for cold calls and emails.
Staffing your business involves figuring out what type of people you want to hire. You can hire a completely local staff or fill the gaps with individuals from different countries. Those wishing to come to Jamaica for work have to apply for a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS). If you’re hiring expatriates, you’ll be responsible for applying for the work permit on behalf of employees. However, a work permit does not offer an exemption to those who need to apply for an entry visa as well.
Laws Against Discrimination in Jamaica
There are several laws to follow while staffing and recruiting in Jamaica. They cover everything from discrimination and minimum wages to time off and collective bargaining. Some of the vital pieces of legislation to research include the:
- Factories Act
- Employment (Equal Pay For Men and Women) Act
- Holidays with Pay Act
- Maternity Leave Act
- Minimum Wage Act
- Workmen’s Compensation Act
How to Hire Employees in Jamaica
The first step in hiring Jamaican employees is presenting an employment contract. Your contract can be oral or written, but we recommend using a written contract in English. Include terms and benefits related to compensation, health care, termination, working hours, and similar factors. You should also ensure that all compensation is listed in Jamaican Dollars.
Jamaica has an entire Recruiting of Workers Act that stipulates regulations and laws on hiring employees. For example, you cannot recruit anyone under 18. Additionally, all the workers you recruit will have to go before a justice and get a medical examination. If you recruit a worker from far away, you should pay expenses related to their and their family’s journey.
Jamaica Employment Laws
Jamaica has employment compliance laws that apply to both residents and expats. Non-Jamaican nationals need to get a work permit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security before they can start working for your company. If you hire an expat, you need to give them a letter confirming your offer of employment so that they can submit it along with their work permit application. You can only hire an expat if you’ve already tried and failed to offer the job to a Jamaican resident.
Onboarding in Jamaica
After you hire employees in Jamaica, you can create a positive working experience starting with your onboarding process. If you operate a small subsidiary, you should try to travel to Jamaica to welcome new employees. Consider onboarding several new hires at one time, and create events for everyone to meet each other and bond.
Next, you should look at providing job training based on the employee’s position. Provide the training through either your company or a third party that provides expert options for your industry. You can also coordinate some training based on your company’s standards and ways of operating so that employees understand more about your values and goals.
Benefits of Hiring Outsourcing in Jamaica
Jamaica hiring outsourcing provides two major benefits — time-saving and compliance. Our global PEO will let you start working in a day with Jamaica hiring outsourcing services. We’ll hire employees from your team through our Jamaica subsidiary, saving you from having to start your own. Our team will make sure you’re abreast and compliant with Jamaica’s employment compliance laws as well so that you can focus on your business.
Work With G-P To Expand Globally
G-P has everything you need to succeed in your expansion. Contact us today for more information about Jamaica hiring outsourcing.