[Jersey] Call for abolishment of ‘trainee level’ wage

In Jersey, islanders receiving 'trainee' wages could soon be paid the full minimum wage rate if proposals are approved by States members, ITV News reports.

St Helier Deputy Max Andrews has called for the existing 'trainee rates' to be abolished and for school leavers to be paid the same £10.50 hourly minimum wage as other workers.

The minimum wage rate for trainees is currently £7.87 per hour in their first year, rising to £9.19 per hour in their second year.

Jersey's hourly minimum wage rose to £10.50 last month after being approved in a States vote.

The island's minimum wage is recommended by the Jersey Employment Forum (JEF) and Ministers then decide whether to adopt it.

The JEF reportedly recommended a minimum wage of £10.10 per hour but Deputy Elaine Millar - the Social Security Minister - proposed a higher £10.50 per hour rate instead.

In addition, another of the forum's recommendations was to scrap trainee minimum wages from January 2024.

Deputy Andrews wants to see that recommendation enacted. He said, "it's peculiar to maintain the trainee minimum wage rates which are £2.63 and £1.31 below the current [rate]".

Fewer than 100 islanders are understood to currently be receiving the trainee minimum wage.

Source: ITV News

(Quote via original reporting)

In Jersey, islanders receiving 'trainee' wages could soon be paid the full minimum wage rate if proposals are approved by States members, ITV News reports.

St Helier Deputy Max Andrews has called for the existing 'trainee rates' to be abolished and for school leavers to be paid the same £10.50 hourly minimum wage as other workers.

The minimum wage rate for trainees is currently £7.87 per hour in their first year, rising to £9.19 per hour in their second year.

Jersey's hourly minimum wage rose to £10.50 last month after being approved in a States vote.

The island's minimum wage is recommended by the Jersey Employment Forum (JEF) and Ministers then decide whether to adopt it.

The JEF reportedly recommended a minimum wage of £10.10 per hour but Deputy Elaine Millar - the Social Security Minister - proposed a higher £10.50 per hour rate instead.

In addition, another of the forum's recommendations was to scrap trainee minimum wages from January 2024.

Deputy Andrews wants to see that recommendation enacted. He said, "it's peculiar to maintain the trainee minimum wage rates which are £2.63 and £1.31 below the current [rate]".

Fewer than 100 islanders are understood to currently be receiving the trainee minimum wage.

Source: ITV News

(Quote via original reporting)