Find Trade Association expertise in Jamaica

The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce is located in Kingston and its main focus is on the promotion of a favourable business environment to facilitate the success of projects for the development of the community. Membership is made up of businesses and professionals and services offered include lobbying the government on issues which affect trade, informing members on changes to government policy which will have an effect on trade and business, maintaining good links with International Chambers of Commerce to ensure that Jamaican business people remain competitive in the international market.

The organisation assisted the establishment of bodies like the Agricultural Department, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association and the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ).

Local chambers of commerce include, to the west of Jamaica, The Negril Chamber of Commerce (a local non-profit NGO serving the business community of Negirl), Hanover Chamber of Commerce, Montenegro Bay Chamber of Commerce and St Ann Chamber of Commerce. To the east of the country, Portland Chamber of Commerce serves the local business community.  

There are many other trade associations that focus on specific industries, including the Media Association of Jamaica, the Land Surveyors Association of Jamaica and the Jamaica Exporters Association.

Important industrial associations include the Shipping Association of Jamaica and the Incorporated Master Builders Association of Jamaica. The Jamaican Livestock Association (JLA), the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) and the Jamaica Confederations of Trade Unions are other significant bodies in the sector.

The World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report (2012-2013) ranks Jamaica low in terms of cooperation in labour-employer relations at 118^th out of 144 countries with a score of 3.8 where 1 means that relations are generally confrontational and 7 indicates that they are generally cooperative. This places it below the world average of 4.3. When it comes to flexibility of wage determination Jamaica ranks higher with a score, equalling the world average of 4.9 and in 84^th place out of 144. In this scale, a score of 1 indicates that there is a centralised bargaining process and 7 that wages are set by each individual company.