THE JAMAICA EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION (JEF) was established in April 1958 (and registered as a Trade Union under the Trade Union Act of 1919) as a representative organization of employers in Jamaica. The Federation has been fortunate to have had the sterling contribution from a number of officers and members through the Forty-six years (46) years of its existence.

The first President was Mr. Douglas Judah - a noted Lawyer. He was followed by Mr. Hubert Arnold - Managing Director of Hardware and Lumber.

Mr. Leslie Ashenheim - Legal Luminary; Mr. Paul Bovell – Attorney-at-Law; Mr. Deryck Stone - Attorney-at-Law; Mr. Sidney Chambers; Mr. Emil George - Attorney-at-Law; Dr. George Phillip: Mr. Edward Ashenheim – Attorney-at-Law; Mr. Sam Tyson, Mr. Carl Roberts. and Professor Neville Ying.

The Executive Directors have been Mr. Deryck Stone, Mr. Sidney Chambers, Major Eric Grell, Mr. George Kirkaldy, Ms. Hazel Gibbon and Mr. Neville Royes.

Looking back over the years, the Jamaica Employers’ Federation has played a vital role in representing the views of employers, locally and internationally; and has contributed tremendously to the development of Employer/Employee relations.