Could minimum wage rise to £11.64 from next year?

Monday 02 October 2023

Jersey's minimum wage will rise by 10.9% to £11.64 per hour next year – if Ministers accept a recommendation from the Employment Forum.

The Forum has submitted a report on wage levels to Social Security Minister Elaine Millar, who will determine the Government's response to the recommendations made and then seek support from politicians.

The June 2023 inflation rate was used by the Forum as the basis for the recommendation, which would come into force on 1 January.

All islanders will receive the same minimum wage from next year onwards, following a previous recommendation by the Forum, agreed by the States Assembly, to integrate trainee minimum wages into the main minimum wage rate.

Maximum weekly offsets to employee accommodation will also rise by 10.9%, to £127.54, while the maximum offset for accommodation and meals rises by the same percentage to £169.98.

Pictured: Social Security Minister Elaine Millar.

Employment Forum Chair Carla Benest, said: “I’m pleased that the Forum has been able to make these recommendations to the Minister for Social Security.

"We’re extremely grateful for the engagement with employees and employers and business and trade union organisations.

"We recognise that these are still challenging times for businesses and employees, and the Forum has endeavoured to reflect that in our recommendations.”

The Jersey Employment Forum is an independent, non-political public body, made up of employee and employer representatives, together with independent members.

In its report, the Forum highlights the difference between the statutory minimum wage, which is legally enforceable, and the living wage, which is a voluntary benchmark that is set annually in December by the Caritas Living Wage Panel and currently stands at £12.19 per hour.

The report notes that 48 firms and organisations are accredited as Jersey Living Wage employers, with an indication that around 70 businesses were seeking accreditation before the end of 2023.