Key information:

International telephone Code: 876

Capital: Kingston

Official Language: English

Area: 10,911 square km (4,244 square miles)

Population: 2,429,000

Currency: Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Public Holidays: New Year's Day - Ash Wednesday - Good Friday Easter Monday - Labor Day (23 May) - Emancipation Day (7 Aug) Independence Day (6 Aug) - National Hero's Day (17 Oct) Christmas Day (25 Dec) - Boxing Day (26 Dec)

Organizations: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Ministry of Transport & Works, 1c, Pawsey Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica

Tel: +876 754 2586 93 - Fax: +876 754 2595

Business Hours: Mon-Fri: 08.30-16.30

Sat/Sun: Closed

Banking Hours: Mon-Thurs: 09.00-14.00

Friday: 09.00-15.00

Sat/Sun: Closed

The Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) celebrated 60 years as a registered employers' trade union in 1999. Located in Newport West, close to the Port of Kingston, the association has a proud history of outstanding accomplishments.

The SAJ has recorded steady growth with membership expanding to 64 private sector companies, including shipping agents, terminal operators, stevedoring companies, ship owners and operators, and providers of ancillary services to the Port of Kingston. The primary function of the SAJ is to regulate the daily supply and management of labor at Port Bustamante (otherwise known as the Port of Kingston). In addition, the association acts on behalf of its members in initiatives to advance industrial relations, training, security, information technology and liaison with the Government and trade bodies. The association establishes uniformity among its members, in rates and remuneration for port labor.

Labor at the port of Kingston: The SAJ maintains a cadre of skilled labor to handle cargo passing over the port. A recruiting centre, managed by the SAJ, is open 24 hours every day to assign duties to the 256 port workers on roll. The current labor contract (1997-2000) signed between the SAJ and labor unions will facilitate further development of the port. This three-year contract is significant as it allows for critical changes to some restrictive work practices that had been in use in the port for many years, and should result in reduced port operating costs.

The SAJ is directed by a 10-member managing committee, and specific areas of responsibility are shared among sub-committees such as the Wharf & Port Users Committee, Port Disaster Committee and Environment Committee. These sub-committees oversee port and related operations in an effort to protect and support the conduct of members' business according to fair and honest principles.

Integrity: In efforts to maintain the integrity of cargo passing over Port Bustamante, the SAJ Canine Division provides a drug detection service at the highest professional level not only for SAJ members but also for exporters at ports island-wide.

Training: Over the years, the shipping association has led many training initiatives dedicated to maintaining a highly skilled, competent workforce in the Port of Kingston in order to remain competitive at all times. Courses are conducted periodically on such topics as port safety, terminal operations and human resource development.

As the new millennium dawns, the latest initiative by the association is the acquisition of a computerised crane simulator for advanced training of gantry crane operators. The project, which will greatly enhance the training capabilities of the SAJ, was undertaken jointly by the SAJ, the Port Authority of Jamaica and HEART Trust/National Training Agency. The simulator will be housed at the Jamaica Maritime Institute (JMI) to facilitate the ongoing training process. A two-year diploma in shipping logistics was expanded in 1998 to encompass students in the Caribbean region and is telecast via the University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre.

Computer: Port Computer Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the shipping association, was established in 1981. Its main objective is to provide members of the association with information technology solutions.

Secretariat: The Secretariat of the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) is hosted by the SAJ and its offices are located in the SAJ building.

The SAJ is a founding member of the CSA.