Minister of Tourism Champions Better Labour Market Arrangements for Jamaica’s Tourism Workers

Following the annual strategic meeting with Inverotel, one of the largest Spanish hotel investment groups, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has negotiated better labour market arrangements for the backbone of Jamaica’s tourism sector - its dedicated workforce. The meeting included key representatives from Inverotel and senior tourism officials in the margins of FITUR, the leading tourism trade fair held in Spain.
Established in 2007, the Inverotel Group currently has 18 members from various hotel chains, which together have around 100,000 rooms in the Americas and the Caribbean.
The discussion, led by the Minister, focused on a comprehensive plan that will address three critical areas: housing accessibility, professional development through training, and retirement security.
“Our tourism workers are the heart and soul of Jamaica’s hospitality sector,” said Minister Bartlett. “This initiative represents the commitment of our largest investors to our workers’ well-being and professional growth, ensuring a sustainable future for both our employees and the sector,” he added.
The multi-faceted plan that Inverotel has committed to support includes providing affordable housing solutions and professional excellence initiative that will look at comprehensive training programmes aligned with international hospitality standards. This training initiative, that will feature strong collaboration with the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation, will provide possibilities for industry-recognized certification opportunities, career advancement pathways and skill development.
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Two major components that the group has also committed to include full payment of gratuity and support for staff participation in the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme to ensure social security for workers in retirement.
“We welcome this level of commitment by our Spanish hotel partners, and it represents a significant investment in our workers,” added Minister Bartlett. “By addressing fundamental needs like housing, professional development, and retirement security, we’re not just supporting our workers - we’re strengthening Jamaica’s entire tourism sector,” he stressed.
Minister Bartlett is leading a small delegation of tourism officials at FITUR 2025, in Madrid, Spain, a major tourism fair with 152 countries represented.