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2025.01.21
Deputy D.J. Warr of St. Helier South of the Chief Minister regarding applications fees for Registered status workers (OQ.3/2025):
Given the reliance of the hospitality industry on staff with registered status, will the Chief Minister advise whether the registered classification remains appropriate in the current economic climate and if any consideration has been given to waiving the associated £53.80 application fee for each registered staff member, and if not, why not?
Deputy L.F. Farnham of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter : (The Chief Minister):
With the permission of the Deputy , Deputy Alves will take this role in her capacity as Assistant Chief Minister.
Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier Central (Assistant Chief Minister - rapporteur):
I would like to thank the Deputy for allowing me to answer this question. Yes, I can confirm that the registered classification remains appropriate as part of the overall population controls for the Island. There are currently no plans to waive the fee for registered workers. These fees are currently used to fund skills training to local industries including hospitality. Improving productivity and improving skills in our local businesses is a vital part of our future economy programme and I strongly support the work of this Skills Jersey team.
3.4.1 Deputy D.J. Warr :
My business is currently in the process of hiring a new member of staff. Over the past 3 weeks 2 local interviewees turned up drunk and we have had 2 fraudsters apply for the job. We have had 60 off- Island inquiries. Does the Minister not agree that the licence fee is effectively a tax on jobs when it is virtually impossible for any hospitality business to find entitled staff. Is this just not another unnecessary cost imposed by Government to the detriment of small businesses on this Island?
Deputy C.S. Alves :
I will say that I do not agree with that. Registered fees are currently used to fund Skills Jersey and Skills Jersey receives £300,000 each year, specifically from these fees. I will also make the point that these fees were originally introduced in 2013 and they were not increased for 4 years. In 2017 it was announced that they would go up to £50. So the current rate of £53.80 represents a significantly lower increase when compared to R.P.I. (retail price increase) over the last 8 years.