$145m spent assisting poor Jamaicans, says Labour Ministry report
Published:Monday | July 7, 2014 | 9:47 AM
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security spent more than $145 million through its Public Assistance Programme during the last financial year.
According to the ministry’s annual performance report, a total of 7,622 persons benefited from cash awarded in the form of grants, surpassing the 2012-2013 total of 6,000 persons.
A sum of $106.3 million was distributed as compassionate grants to 3,125 persons to offset medical, funeral and other expenses.
Another $21.6 million was provided to 829 families to develop income-generating projects and to boost existing ones.
Emergency-relief grants accounted for $8.9 million and were given to 430 households, while 416 students received $8.4 million in education and social-intervention grants.
The report also revealed that 53.8 per cent of the grants were issued to females, while males received 46.2 per cent.
The ministry’s Public Assistance Programme provides non-contributory social assistance grants to the most vulnerable Jamaicans.
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