The work of the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) is expected to be enhanced over the next two years with the attachment of a Japanese productivity consultant.

Makato Oyama was last Wednesday introduced to public and private sector leaders at a breakfast meeting at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew.

In addressing the meeting, State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Andrew Gallimore welcomed Oyama to Jamaica and thanked the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its support in this endeavour.

Success

JPC Chairman Joseph A. Matalon, in introducing Oyama, said his international experience infused with the JPC team should result in a greater contribution to the competitiveness of Jamaican firms. He, however, noted that the success of the JPC team would be dependent on the level of cooperation received from Jamaican businesses.

He revealed that Oyama, who is a product improvement specialist with more than 30 years experience in his field, will be working alongside senior productivity specialist in the Technical Advisory Services Unit, Tamar Nelson, where he will be advising a number of public and private sector organisations of ways in which they can improve productivity.

Productivity improvement

The Jamaica Productivity Centre is the national organisation that is mandated to serve as the catalyst for promoting and facilitating productivity improvement at the national, sectoral and industry and enterprise levels, building and enhancing productivity competencies, productivity advisory services and operates as a resource centre by providing access to print and electronic materials on productivity.

The centre is a tripartite organisation comprising the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions and the Jamaica Employers' Federation.