Hire in Jamaica

EOR in Jamaica

If a lack of speed or local expertise are among your top concerns when expanding to or employing workers in Jamaica, an employer of record may be the best option for achieving your global growth objectives.

An employer of record, sometimes known as an international PEO, enables you to quickly hire and onboard workers in Jamaica ―often in as little as two weeks―without having to take on the cost and risk of establishing a local entity.

Learn about the hiring, employment, payroll and benefits requirements for workers in Jamaica and how our employer of record service, EOR, and local HR experts can help you manage your international employment needs.

Hiring in Jamaica

Several labor laws in Jamaica cover regulations regarding minimum wage, overtime, hours of work, holidays, leave, wage payment, and termination pay. Workers’ compensation and retirement plans are covered under social taxes.

Employment contracts in Jamaica

As you look to hire employees in Jamaica, here are some standard regulations you’ll need to know to create a compliant contract, as well as how an employer of record and PEO can provide support for your unique HR needs.

Working hours

A standard workday in Jamaica is eight hours and a standard work week is 40 hours. Overtime work is any work done beyond eight hours a day or work done on a rest day, Sunday, or holiday.

Compensation

As you consider the appropriate salary to offer new employees, keep in mind:

• Jamaica has a generally applicable national minimum wage and a minimum wage specifically for the security guard industry.
• Effective August 1, 2018, the standard national minimum wage is J$7,000 per 40-hour workweek.
• Effective August 1, 2018, the minimum wage for security guards is J$9,700 per 40-hour workweek.

As your employer of record in Jamaica, we can provide you with resources and insights about employee compensation, so you are better equipped to make a competitive employment offer.

Bonuses

Jamaica does not mandate employers to provide bonus payments to employees.

Termination and severance

Employers are required to give an employee notice of termination according to an employee’s length of service.

Employers must pay employees a redundancy payment equal to two weeks of pay for each year worked up to 10 years of work. For each year worked after 10 years, employers must pay an employee three weeks of pay per year worked.

Employee benefits and paid leave in Jamaica

When negotiating terms of an employment contract with a candidate in Jamaica, here are some of the statutory benefits and paid leave requirements to keep in mind, as well as how an employer of record can support your company’s benefits strategy.

Maternity leave

Employers are required to give pregnant employees 52 weeks of leave. The maternity allowance given to employees during this leave is equal to the national minimum wage.

Vacation

Employers must give employees paid annual leave at the following rates:

• One day of paid leave per 22 days worked - for employees who have worked greater than 110 days but less than 220 days
• Two weeks of paid vacation - for employees who have worked at least 220 days.
• Three weeks of paid vacation - for employees who have worked 220 days a year for the past 10 years.

Holidays

The public holidays in Jamaica are:

• New Year’s Day
• Ash Wednesday
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• Labor Day
• Emancipation Day
• Independence Day
• National Heroes’ Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

Sick leave

Employers are required to give employees who have served at least 110 days one day of paid sick leave for every 22 days worked. After a year of employment, employees receive two weeks of paid sick leave per year. Sick leave is paid at the rate of an employee’s normal remuneration.

Health coverage

Employers are required to contribute 2.5% of an employee’s gross pay to the National Insurance Scheme. Employees must contribute 2.5% of gross pay up to a wage ceiling of J$1,500,000 annually to social taxes. The ceiling for contribution amounts is J$37,500 a year and J$3,125 a month.

Additional benefits

In addition to healthcare benefits, employees in Jamaica are entitled to pension, which is funded by government tax revenues, as well as workers compensation, which is covered through mandated employer insurance.

Employer social costs will cover a large portion of employee benefits in Jamaica, but we can consult with you about supplemental coverage options, such as additional pension contributions or life insurance if needed.

Updated: August 29, 2024

Employee onboarding with an employer of record in Jamaica

We write and validate all local employment contracts, streamlining the onboarding process for you and your Jamaican employees—all you have to do is provide relevant information and review and approve the employment agreement. As your employer of record in Jamaica, we will:

• Schedule a welcome call to discuss HR and employment information for Jamaica, as well as answer any questions
• Prepare a customized employment contract in English or other local language
• Share the employment contract and benefits information with the new employee for signature and review
• Gather tax and banking information from the employee to set up payroll
• Provide a local point of contact to the employee to answer any questions regarding their employment, local HR or payroll

The entire onboarding process for the employee is often completed in as little as two weeks.

Partner with Safeguard Global as your Jamaica employer of record and PEO

With over a decade of service, we are the longest-serving employer of record and PEO provider in the international market. Organizations around the world rely on EOR, our employer of record solution, to expand and hire in 170+ countries around the world, quickly and compliantly.

We’ve seen just about every global employment circumstance imaginable—and with our extensive knowledge of local law and culture, we know what it takes to get employment right in Jamaica. We provide written contracts in the local language, salaries in the local currency and HR support in your employees’ time zone.

Additionally, as a global payroll provider we support payroll administration—including payments, filings and other calculations— all around the world and can accommodate the payroll outsourcing needs of any size organization.

Whether you’re looking to hire as part of a strategic expansion or to meet specific talent needs, our global solutions advisors can walk you through your international hiring options so you can make the right choice for your organization. Contact us today.

Disclaimer

The information provided on or through this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Safeguard Global expressly disclaims any liability with respect to warranty or representation concerning the information contained herein, including the lost essence, interpretation, accuracy and/or completeness of the information in transit and language translation.