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WQ.319/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY
BY DEPUTY M.R. SCOTT OF ST. BRELADE
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 17th JULY 2023 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 24th JULY 2023
Question
“Will the Minister advise whether she has –
- referred, or is giving consideration to referring, to the Employment Forum, the issue surrounding the impact on, and cost to, major supermarkets of an increase in the minimum wage to the living wage and the likely impact on food prices in the Island; and
- sought, or is considering seeking, the Employment Forum’s opinion on the appropriateness or desirability for different, sector-specific minimum wage rates to be introduced?”
Answer
- The Employment Forum will be consulted very soon as part of the exercise to consider the feasibility of introducing a statutory living wage. I do not intend to direct the Forum to consult specific sectors of the economy in Jersey in this regard. Nor will that consultation consider the impact on food prices of any increase to either the minimum wage or any future living wage. The implications of increases in the minimum wage will be addressed in other ways.
- The Chief Minister made it clear in her answer to WQ306/2023 that she did not support sector specific minimum wages. I share this view and am not planning any action to alter our current laws which prohibit the setting of sector-specific minimum wage rates. The reasons for that are set out clearly in the Chief Minister’s answer. I have no plans to refer this issue to the Employment Forum.