House economy committee puts flexible work, oil prices and productivity first on agenda

Parliament’s Economy and Production Committee used its May 20, 2026 sitting to settle a first work programme focused on productivity, flexible work arrangements and the possible economic effects of geopolitical instability and rising fuel costs.

The chairman urged members to approach the committee’s work without party labels, saying matters such as land titling, land ownership and production capacity affected Jamaicans across political lines. He also welcomed students and teachers from Kingsway High and Prep School, who were visiting Parliament for career day.

Members raised several issues for future consideration. Member Hilton pointed to cement availability, saying a private member’s motion before the House dealt with a matter affecting construction and other economic activity. The chairman said the committee would await any referral from the full House before taking up that issue.

Member Jackson challenged the committee’s composition, citing the standing orders for select committees and arguing that the issue could require a ruling. The chairman responded that the committee had been established with the backing of the House and referred to the standing orders allowing suspension of rules by motion.

Other proposed agenda items included artificial intelligence, the creative industries, local participation in tourism, land titling, agriculture and productivity, and the business process outsourcing sector. Members also discussed the need for rural concerns and citizens’ submissions to feature in the committee’s work.

The committee agreed that its first substantive meeting would examine flexible work hours and work-from-home policy in light of global instability and energy costs. Suggested invitees included ministries dealing with labour, public service and digitisation, the Planning Institute of Jamaica, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Small Business Association of Jamaica, trade union representatives and CAPRI.

Member Jackson also asked for an update from the Bank of Jamaica on ATM access, including machine coverage, downtime, cash replenishment and previous guidelines. Members agreed they should first receive earlier BOJ submissions before scheduling that matter separately.

The next meeting was set for Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 10 a.m., with invitations to be sent to the relevant agencies and organisations.