This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.
Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
STATES OF JERSEY
r
ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN 2007 (P.92/2006): FIFTH AMENDMENT (P.92/2006 AMD.(5)) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 11th September 2006 by the Council of Ministers
STATES GREFFE
COMMENTS
The Council of Ministers opposes this amendment.
The option of work permits as a means of regulating the local labour market was investigated and reported on, by the Policy and Resources Committee, in 2001. The conclusion at that time was that work permits were undesirable, in significant part because of the bureaucracy involved, and because of concerns over effectiveness. This conclusion informed the current migration polices, which were approved as recently as 2005. These policies restrict the number of positions available to non-locals.
The principle of restricting positions, as enshrined and enhanced in the approved migration policies, has already proved broadly effective. As at 31st December 2005, 85% of the working population had been in the Island for more than 5 years, and 86% of the Island's total population had been here for more than 14 years. The clear conclusion being that the vast majority of current residents are long-term residents, a balance that will be maintained.
The Council of Ministers rejects this amendment because the investigation and report it calls for has already been completed, as recently as 2001, and because the Migration Policies, which do not include a work permit element, have already been strongly approved by the States (and work commenced on their development).