Motivated by a deep sense of justice, Manley used his political power to enact real social change during his time in office. His determination to give the working class Jamaican rights they had historically been denied by the privileged classes has had a profound impact on the lives of Jamaican people.
| The Status of Children Act [1976] ended institutional discrimination against children born out of wedlock. Prior to 1976, If an unwed man left no will, his children could not inherit his property. | |||
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The Employment (Equal Pay for Men and Women) Act [1975] was intended to foster gender equity in pay scales
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The National Housing Trust was established in 1976 in order to provide affordable housing for the working class Jamaican |
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The Minimum Wage Act [1975] sought to ensure a liveable wage for all working Jamaicans |
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The Trade Union Act dates back to 1919, but the 1979 amendment allowed workers under the age of 18 to become members of a union. This was significant as many Jamaican workers joined the workforce as teenagers. | ||
| The Maternity Leave Act [1979] made it possible for a female employee with at least 12 months of service to get paid time off work after becoming pregnant |