[Guernsey] Brexit, pandemic and population rules take toll on businesses

Guernsey business leaders are calling on the States to suspend or revise the island’s population management legislation because it is responsible for the widespread staff shortages that are now holding back economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Guernsey Press reports.

The Confederation of Guernsey Industry (CGi) is urging chief minister Peter Ferbrache to intervene as a matter of urgency as a result of the damage the lack of foreign labour is doing.

The issue was highlighted after one of Guernsey’s leading cleaning companies had to turn down potential work with one of the island’s high schools, a large hotel and a major retailer because the law caused immigration issues.

Claire Archer from EasyClean said, “Most sectors of the economy rely on a hidden army of workers to keep them going - the cleaners, gardeners, waiters, kitchen porters, shop assistants, delivery drivers etc, who are generally not valued or [are] forgotten by society and certainly not by population management policies and the UK visa system which we have by default had to adopt post-Brexit.”

The problem is that flexibility introduced by the States at the height of the pandemic for staff on nine months on, three months off arrangements is coming to an end and now all employees must leave when their permit expires, with no extension offered.

“As a result, we will lose staff who we cannot replace at the moment,’ Mrs Archer said. “Even with zero income during lockdown in 2020 our business still contributed almost £200,000 to the Guernsey economy in employee income tax and social security payments.

“Recruitment is the only thing holding us back.

“Some joined-up thinking is urgently required across all States committees to mend the economy and ensure future prosperity.”

The Home Affairs Committee has responsibility for population management laws.

Committee president Deputy Rob Prow said, “The committee will consider this matter again shortly but remains committed to doing everything it can to support businesses, particularly those who have had a very challenging time during the pandemic.” 

CGi chairman Dave Newman confirmed it had been working with EasyClean as a member and had highlighted the issues outlined by the business with politicians and officials.

“We know from working with the States on individual cases that it has shown as much flexibility as possible, but has exhausted all of the options within the existing Population Management Law,” Mr Newman said.

“The legislation is no longer a civil service matter, rather it is a political issue that needs urgent action.”

The CGi has always maintained that the PML was out of date from the moment it was introduced in 2017 and should now be suspended or, at the very least, revised.

“Gone are the days when the island was able to call on a steady supply of migrant labour and a system that facilitated their employment. The current regime serves to generate unnecessary red tape, so for companies that are still dependent on foreign staff, such as EasyClean, it has now become an impediment to doing business in Guernsey,” Mr Newman said.

The CGi expects the States to address the obvious issues the law presents and its impact in the aftermath of Brexit and the issues caused by COVID-19.

“We would hope that the Chief Minister himself will make this a high priority given his experience in P&R and as he has also written on this very topic in the past as chairman of the 2020 Association,” Mr Newman added.

Guernsey business leaders are calling on the States to suspend or revise the island’s population management legislation because it is responsible for the widespread staff shortages that are now holding back economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Guernsey Press reports.

The Confederation of Guernsey Industry (CGi) is urging chief minister Peter Ferbrache to intervene as a matter of urgency as a result of the damage the lack of foreign labour is doing.

The issue was highlighted after one of Guernsey’s leading cleaning companies had to turn down potential work with one of the island’s high schools, a large hotel and a major retailer because the law caused immigration issues.

Claire Archer from EasyClean said, “Most sectors of the economy rely on a hidden army of workers to keep them going - the cleaners, gardeners, waiters, kitchen porters, shop assistants, delivery drivers etc, who are generally not valued or [are] forgotten by society and certainly not by population management policies and the UK visa system which we have by default had to adopt post-Brexit.”

The problem is that flexibility introduced by the States at the height of the pandemic for staff on nine months on, three months off arrangements is coming to an end and now all employees must leave when their permit expires, with no extension offered.

“As a result, we will lose staff who we cannot replace at the moment,’ Mrs Archer said. “Even with zero income during lockdown in 2020 our business still contributed almost £200,000 to the Guernsey economy in employee income tax and social security payments.

“Recruitment is the only thing holding us back.

“Some joined-up thinking is urgently required across all States committees to mend the economy and ensure future prosperity.”

The Home Affairs Committee has responsibility for population management laws.

Committee president Deputy Rob Prow said, “The committee will consider this matter again shortly but remains committed to doing everything it can to support businesses, particularly those who have had a very challenging time during the pandemic.” 

CGi chairman Dave Newman confirmed it had been working with EasyClean as a member and had highlighted the issues outlined by the business with politicians and officials.

“We know from working with the States on individual cases that it has shown as much flexibility as possible, but has exhausted all of the options within the existing Population Management Law,” Mr Newman said.

“The legislation is no longer a civil service matter, rather it is a political issue that needs urgent action.”

The CGi has always maintained that the PML was out of date from the moment it was introduced in 2017 and should now be suspended or, at the very least, revised.

“Gone are the days when the island was able to call on a steady supply of migrant labour and a system that facilitated their employment. The current regime serves to generate unnecessary red tape, so for companies that are still dependent on foreign staff, such as EasyClean, it has now become an impediment to doing business in Guernsey,” Mr Newman said.

The CGi expects the States to address the obvious issues the law presents and its impact in the aftermath of Brexit and the issues caused by COVID-19.

“We would hope that the Chief Minister himself will make this a high priority given his experience in P&R and as he has also written on this very topic in the past as chairman of the 2020 Association,” Mr Newman added.