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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY S.Y. MÉZEC OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2016
Question
Will the Minister advise whether Jersey's minimum wage will fall behind those of both the United Kingdom and Guernsey if the recent proposal from the Employment Forum is adopted, and would she undertake to implement a more substantial rise than is being proposed to ensure workers in Jersey earn more than their counterparts in Guernsey?
Answer
This information is already in the public domain. As stated in R.102/2016, I have accepted the recommendation of the Employment Forum that the minimum wage should be increased to £7.18 per hour with effect from 1 April 2017. This rate applies to all employees aged 16 and above[1].
That report also states the position in the UK and Guernsey where differential minimum wage rates are set depending on the age of the employee. In the UK, hourly rates range from £4.00 per hour for those aged 16 and 17 to £7.20 per hour for those aged 25 and above. In Guernsey (subject to approval later this month), a rate of £6.50 per hour is proposed to be paid to employees aged 16 and 17 from 1 January 2017, with a rate of £7.20 proposed for those aged 18 and above.
The Employment Forum is an independent body that undertakes a comprehensive review each year before making its recommendation on the level of the minimum wage. This year they came to a unanimous decision taking into account a range of factors, which include the economy of Jersey and competitiveness.
I fully support the proposal put forward by the well-respected Employment Forum and have no plans to challenge their recommendation.