Labour Ministry hails JN Money partnership supporting Jamaican farm workers in Canada
Key Points(5)
- The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has commended JN Money Services for its continued partnership in supporting Jamaican farm workers in Canada, as the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme (SAWP) marks its 60th anniversary.
- The partnership, formalised in July 2024 through a memorandum of understanding with JN Money Services Canada Limited, focuses on improving workers’ welfare, expanding access to financial services and supporting their families in Jamaica.
- Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr.
- said collaboration between the government and private sector is essential to ensuring that the benefits of overseas employment extend beyond workers’ time abroad.
- “Our responsibility does not end when a Jamaican worker leaves our shores.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has commended JN Money Services for its continued partnership in supporting Jamaican farm workers in Canada, as the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme (SAWP) marks its 60th anniversary.
The partnership, formalised in July 2024 through a memorandum of understanding with JN Money Services Canada Limited, focuses on improving workers’ welfare, expanding access to financial services and supporting their families in Jamaica.
Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. said collaboration between the government and private sector is essential to ensuring that the benefits of overseas employment extend beyond workers’ time abroad.
“Our responsibility does not end when a Jamaican worker leaves our shores. We must continue to protect their welfare, strengthen the support available to their families and help them turn the rewards of their hard work into lasting opportunities,” Charles Jr. said.
Established in 1966 with an initial cohort of 264 Jamaican workers, the SAWP now provides employment opportunities for more than 9,000 Jamaicans annually.
The minister also credited workers’ preparation, competence and commitment for Jamaica’s strong international reputation in agricultural employment.
Horace Hines, general manager of JN Money Services, said the company's remittance services help workers support their families by providing money for household expenses, children's education and other financial commitments.
However, he said the partnership extends beyond money transfers, with JN Money working alongside the Jamaican Liaison Service in Canada to connect workers with financial services and other support from their arrival in the country through their return to Jamaica.
One initiative is a short-term loan facility designed to help workers manage expenses at the beginning of the agricultural season, when they may face financial obligations in Jamaica before receiving their first salary in Canada.
The partnership also includes the JN Money Fields of Opportunity Scholarships, launched in July 2025 to support the children of Jamaican farm workers.
The programme provides six one-year scholarships annually, with two awards each for students at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
JN Money also organises occasional outreach activities, including providing Jamaican food and drinks to workers, to help them maintain a connection with home.
Monique Broughton, chief representative officer of the JN Bank Canada Representative Office, said the programme's anniversary highlights the longstanding relationship between Jamaica and Canada and its impact on generations of Jamaican families.
She said the JN Group has sought to help workers move beyond remittances by providing opportunities to save, access banking services and work towards longer-term financial goals, including home ownership.
JN Bank representatives also conduct outreach sessions in Simcoe, Ontario, alongside JN Money's operations, where workers can access remittance services and receive assistance with opening accounts.
Broughton said the group's continued engagement is intended to help workers make the most of their employment in Canada while building financial security for themselves and their families in Jamaica.
