Minimum wage to rise to £11.64 from next year

Tuesday 03 October 2023

The Social Security Minister has agreed to increase Jersey's minimum wage to £11.64 per hour next year.

In addition to accepting the Employment Forum's recommendation of a 10.9% increase, Deputy Elaine Millar agreed to increase the offset rates for meals and accommodation by the same percentage.

These increases will be implemented by a Ministerial Order and come into force on 1 January 2024.

Deputy Millar said: “I am very grateful to the Employment Forum for their work in preparing this report. The Government remains committed to seeing real increases to the minimum wage level.

"The Forum’s recommendation to increase the minimum wage by the June 2023 RPI figure of 10.9% and by more than the increase in average earnings is welcome. I believe this change will make a positive difference to those on the lowest wages.”

Pictured: Social Security Minister, Deputy Elaine Millar accepted the Employment Forum's recommendations.

The June 2023 inflation rate was used by the Forum as the basis for the recommendation.

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.

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.”

Pictured: Employment Forum Chair, Carla Benest.

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.