Public Holidays in Jamaica for 2019
Jamaica has a great cultural offering like beach resorts, coffee plantations, rivers, mountains, and more adventures. There are well-maintained parks, gardens, and Jamaican speciality that can be spotted with giant clusters of beautiful flowers on street corners of this island.
You will enjoy the culinary delights and many more things to do. Jamaica also has excellent rum and tropical fruits.
Jamaica has attracted several foreign investors in the past years because of its popularity to tourists, and it offers many opportunities.
If you are thinking of investing in Jamaica for your next business venture, you must be aware of its 20 holidays. Aside from that, employees are entitled to them, and you must make sure to grant them that to avoid complications.
Know more about these holidays and more now.
What Employers Must Know About Public Holidays
Based on the Holiday Pay Act 1974, employees must be granted paid holidays, and sick leaves or those benefits and gratuities can be figured out.
The Holidays that have a Pay Order controls how vacation and sick leave with pay will be granted. The entitlement this order stipulates is the minimum payment that will be granted. For every year someone is employed, the worker becomes qualified for a paid vacation leave.
The Holidays with a Pay Order, therefore, stipulates minimum vacation leave can be granted based on the qualifying method.
The person must receive the holiday pay before the specific leave starts or anytime based on the agreement in the contract. The vacation leave may not be granted when the employer gives notice to the employee that they will be terminated.
Dates of the Jamaica Public Holiday 2019
| Date | Day/s | Holiday | Type |
| 1 January | Tuesday | New Year’s Day | Public |
| 14 February | Thursday | Valentine’s Day | Observance |
| 6 March | Wednesday | Ash Wednesday | Public |
| 20 March | Wednesday | March Equinox | Season |
| 19 April | Friday | Good Friday | Public |
| 21 April | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Observance |
| 22 April | Monday | Easter Monday | Public |
| 12 May | Sunday | Mother’s Day | Observance |
| 23 May | Thursday | Labor Day / May Day | Public |
| 16 June | Sunday | Father’s Day | Observance |
| 21 June | Friday | June Solstice | Season |
| 1 August | Thursday | Emancipation Day | Public |
| 6 August | Tuesday | Independence Day | Public |
| 23 September | Monday | September Equinox | Season |
| 21 October | Monday | National Heroes’ Day | Public |
| 21 December | Saturday | December Solstice | Season |
| 24 December | Tuesday | Christmas Eve | Observance |
| 25 December | Wednesday | Christmas Day | Public |
| 26 December | Thursday | Boxing Day | Public |
| 31 December | Tuesday | New Year’s Eve | Observance |
Employee Benefits During Holidays
Public holidays that fall on a Sunday are moved to the next weekday, which is usually Monday. Holidays that happen during Saturdays stay on that date. Jamaica’s government has managed to maintain its authority to have one-time holidays in case there is a national emergency or special event.
As a way to protect female workers from receiving unfair treatment, the government implemented minimum standards that employees must follow.
However, the standards do not stop employers from showing more excellent offers to female works. The truth is, a lot of companies make offers that are more than the national minimum standards so they can attract more suitable workers.
Doing Business in Jamaica
Jamaica and the United States have excellent bilateral relations, and they are main trading partners. The USA accounts for over 40% of Jamaica’s national trade. The other countries that majorly trade with Jamaica are Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, and China.
Jamaica has excellent access to shipping lanes, and it is a relatively large English-speaking nation. It also has a strong affinity to North America, which improves its business environment.
There are plenty of business opportunities in Jamaica, and this is one of many reasons why setting up a business in Jamaica would be good.
Here is some business that is lucrative in Jamaica:
- Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) – Jamaica is the leading country in the Caribbean for BPO investment. There are about 50 BPO companies in Jamaica that offer their services.
- Logistics – Due to the Panama Canal extension, Jamaica benefits from their new commercial and modern ventures that continue to innovate. Jamaica wants to be in the same position as Singapore, Dubai, and Rotterdam.
- Agriculture – The location of Jamaica is ideal for agricultural and agribusiness investors. It has millions of tourists every year with an increasing demand for good quality produce.
If you want to set up a business in Jamaica, you must not hesitate to contact us.
