KINGSTON, Jamaica — On a historic Tuesday morning marking six decades of bilateral collaboration between Jamaica and Canada, Jamaican Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr officially introduced the GOJ/Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) Scholarship at the ministry’s East Street headquarters. This new initiative is designed to open doors to higher education for the children of Jamaican seasonal agricultural workers who take part in the long-standing labour program in Canada.
Six decades after the SAWP partnership was first established, this scholarship represents a meaningful recognition of the outsized contribution Jamaican migrant workers have made to both Canadian agriculture and Jamaica’s domestic economy over the years. “This scholarship is a public acknowledgment of everything our workers have given, and a clear promise from this government that their children’s futures are a priority,” Charles Jr stated during the launch ceremony. “We are building a tangible bridge that connects migrant work, educational opportunity, and long-term national growth for Jamaica.”
For the 2026 academic year, 60 full scholarships will be distributed to eligible students. To qualify, applicants must be children of SAWP workers who have completed at least five consecutive years of participation in the program and remain actively employed under SAWP. The funding supports learners across both secondary and post-secondary education levels, including students in sixth form, undergraduate programs at universities, vocational courses at community colleges, and skills training programs offered through Jamaica’s HEART/NSTA Trust.
Award amounts are structured to meet the specific costs of different education levels: sixth form students will receive JMD $75,000, while tertiary-level students will be granted JMD $200,000. The funds can be used to cover tuition fees, textbooks, classroom supplies, and other mandatory education-related expenses. To align with Jamaica’s national policy goals for boosting domestic food security and building a skilled competitive workforce, extra preference will be given to applicants pursuing degrees or training in agriculture, agribusiness, agro-processing, and other technical vocational fields.
Charles emphasized that the new scholarship is far more than a one-off financial aid program: it reflects a deliberate national policy shift to turn temporary labour mobility into sustained domestic capacity building. “Our workers have spent decades gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge Canadian agricultural systems,” he explained. “This scholarship ensures that the benefits of that global exposure don’t just stay with the individual worker — they pass down to the next generation, creating ripple effects that will strengthen Jamaica for years to come. We are investing in the skills that will grow our domestic productive capacity and drive inclusive long-term growth.”
Over its 60-year history, the SAWP has created mutual benefits for both nations. Jamaican seasonal workers have filled critical labour gaps in Canada’s agricultural sector, while the workers have supported their families back home through regular remittances and stimulated local economic activity across Jamaican communities. The new scholarship builds on this existing legacy by creating new pathways for intergenerational upward mobility through education.
The application window for the 2026 scholarship will open on April 15, 2026, and close at the end of June 30, 2026. Successful applicants will receive their awards in time to register for the September 2026 start of the new academic year. Application forms will be accessible to eligible candidates both digitally via the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s official website and in-person at designated ministry locations across the country. All applicants will need to meet set academic and eligibility requirements and submit required supporting documentation as part of the selection process.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will oversee the entire application and selection process, using a structured multi-step review framework designed to guarantee fairness, full transparency, and alignment with the program’s core objectives.
The launch of the GOJ/SAWP Scholarship reaffirms the Jamaican government’s commitment to tying overseas employment opportunities directly to national development, ensuring the advantages of the decades-old SAWP partnership extend beyond individual workers to their families and the nation’s future generations.
For additional information about eligibility or the application process, interested parties can contact the MLSS Family Services Unit located at 1 F North Street, Kingston, Jamaica, via telephone at 876 676 5557 or 876 676 5659. SAWP workers currently based in Canada can reach the Jamaican Liaison Service directly at 416 733 4358-9.