[Jersey] Government defends failure to meet its living wage pledge

In Jersey, government ministers are receiving criticism for failing to meet a commitment to bring in a statutory living wage, following their pledge to do so, ITVX reports.

In a report published by the country’s Social Security Minister, the government stated that introducing the living wage was not "feasible or desirable".

At the start of the week, the charity Caritas recommended that the living wage in Jersey should rise to £13.41 per hour to reflect the current 10.1 per cent rate of inflation.

The government reportedly made a commitment in 2021 and 2022 to raise the minimum wage, however, it has now said this is "unlikely." The living wage rate would have been two-thirds of the median wage across the island by the end of 2024.

Jersey’s current median wage is £800 per week and the government's 2021 target would have given a minimum wage rate of £13.33 per hour.

Chief Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore said she was "absolutely committed to the living wage" during her 2022 general election campaign.

She said, "It was a concern at the last election and is an even bigger concern with rising inflation now".

While Treasury Minister Ian Gorst said during his campaign, "I think there is an opportunity in the next four years, to move to the living wage.

"The minimum wage will become about the same level as the living wage, we will need to work with farming in particular."

Assistant Chief Minister Lucy Stephenson also agreed saying, "It is now time for the government to step up".

Reform Jersey has reportedly expressed "its extreme disappointment" that the living wage will not go forward as planned. It has vowed to take action to reverse the government's decision.

Party Leader, Deputy Sam Mézec, said, “The report published by the government this week is a shameful disregard of States Assembly decisions that have previously been made to adopt the Living Wage in Jersey.”

Mr Mézec added, "The report offers no economic assessment justifying their abandonment of this target, nor does it refer at all to the plight of the lowest paid workers in Jersey who are suffering from the cost-of-living crisis

"We will be discussing options to bring forward counter-proposals in the new year to get the journey towards the Living Wage back on track."

In response, Assistant Social Security Minster Deputy Malcolm Ferey told ITV News, "We are committed to bringing low-paid workers wages up as far as we possibly can."

When asked whether the living wage will be introduced, he said, "I personally am committed to that, this government is committed to that but it has to be at the right time."

Source: ITVX

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

In Jersey, government ministers are receiving criticism for failing to meet a commitment to bring in a statutory living wage, following their pledge to do so, ITVX reports.

In a report published by the country’s Social Security Minister, the government stated that introducing the living wage was not "feasible or desirable".

At the start of the week, the charity Caritas recommended that the living wage in Jersey should rise to £13.41 per hour to reflect the current 10.1 per cent rate of inflation.

The government reportedly made a commitment in 2021 and 2022 to raise the minimum wage, however, it has now said this is "unlikely." The living wage rate would have been two-thirds of the median wage across the island by the end of 2024.

Jersey’s current median wage is £800 per week and the government's 2021 target would have given a minimum wage rate of £13.33 per hour.

Chief Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore said she was "absolutely committed to the living wage" during her 2022 general election campaign.

She said, "It was a concern at the last election and is an even bigger concern with rising inflation now".

While Treasury Minister Ian Gorst said during his campaign, "I think there is an opportunity in the next four years, to move to the living wage.

"The minimum wage will become about the same level as the living wage, we will need to work with farming in particular."

Assistant Chief Minister Lucy Stephenson also agreed saying, "It is now time for the government to step up".

Reform Jersey has reportedly expressed "its extreme disappointment" that the living wage will not go forward as planned. It has vowed to take action to reverse the government's decision.

Party Leader, Deputy Sam Mézec, said, “The report published by the government this week is a shameful disregard of States Assembly decisions that have previously been made to adopt the Living Wage in Jersey.”

Mr Mézec added, "The report offers no economic assessment justifying their abandonment of this target, nor does it refer at all to the plight of the lowest paid workers in Jersey who are suffering from the cost-of-living crisis

"We will be discussing options to bring forward counter-proposals in the new year to get the journey towards the Living Wage back on track."

In response, Assistant Social Security Minster Deputy Malcolm Ferey told ITV News, "We are committed to bringing low-paid workers wages up as far as we possibly can."

When asked whether the living wage will be introduced, he said, "I personally am committed to that, this government is committed to that but it has to be at the right time."

Source: ITVX

(Link and quotes via original reporting)