Improving Legal Status for Social Enterprises in Jamaica

Jamaica faces several social, environmental and cultural issues inimical to its development. Social enterprises are playing a crucial role in bringing attention to these issues and trying to solve them, through positive contribution to aggregate demand, social inclusion and economic gains. The Government of Jamaica is seeking to establish Social Enterprises into the Socio-Economic Framework of Jamaica and has demonstrated this by the recent inclusion of the Social Value Creation chapter in the Updated MSME and Entrepreneurship Policy. Whilst the MSME and Entrepreneurship Policy has now recognised the sector, an overarching legislation is still absent. Addressing the legislative framework and formalisation gap would unleash several spin-off benefits for the sector, including a registrable legal status with attendant benefits and programmes designed specifically for the needs of the sector. Additionally, the sector could be included in the Special and Differential Treatment Provisions of the Public Procurement Regime being implemented by the government that would pave the way for SEs to trade with the public sector, thereby opening social value, market share and creating an inclusive economy.