Better wages, conditions for workers in construction industry

Stakeholders in Jamaica’s building and construction industry have signed a collective labour agreement that will see employees in the sector receiving better wages and benefiting from improved working conditions.

The 2025-2027 Joint Industrial Council (JIC) Labour Management Agreement for the building and construction industry was signed at the Incorporated Master Builders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ) in Kingston yesterday.  

The signing followed a verbal agreement reached during a meeting between the IMAJ and unions representing industry workers, on January 24, 2025.

The agreement undertakes to stabilise rates of pay and other conditions of employment, establish a formula for the prompt and fair disposition of grievances and ensure that works proceed smoothly without interruption and at the highest attainable efficiency. It also guarantees construction workers a 19 per cent increase in their wages over two years.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles J., who was a witness to the signing, noted that it marks an important milestone in the collective pursuit of economic growth, social advancement and industrial harmony in the country.

He said the building and construction industry is a major pillar of Jamaica’s economy, employing thousands of persons and contributing 10 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

“The key provisions are moving towards protecting the worker, providing clear rights and responsibilities for management, providing a grievance process, providing clarity in terms of fair and stable wages, committing each party to industrial peace and ensuring that we recognise the vital role of union representation,” he explained.

Parties to the agreement included IMAJ President, Richard Mullings; Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) Vice President, Alden Brown; National Workers Union (NWU) Island Supervisor, Khurt Fletcher, and Trade Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary, Barrington Dawes.

Mullings, who spoke during the ceremony, noted the importance of paying a livable wage to the industry’s workers.

He emphasised that the rates recommended in the agreement should be the minimum standard for both the private and public sectors.

Citing challenges with retaining skilled labour in Jamaica, Mullings expressed the hope that “the increase will encourage the workers to stay… not just in the industry but to stay in the country”.