Plan to make more people 'Entitled' to ease staff shortages rejected

Thursday 20 July 2023

A proposal to help businesses experiencing staff shortages by temporarily giving some registered individuals 'Entitled to Work' status has been rejected by States Members.

After lengthy debate in the States Chamber yesterday, 31 States Members voted against Deputy Raluca Kovacs' proposal, while 11 voted for – all 10 Reform Jersey members and Constable Simon Crowcroft.

Deputy Kovacs had called for a temporary scheme which would allow any registered individual who had been continuously resident in Jersey since 31 December 2020 to be eligible for 'Entitled to Work' status until December 2025 – or until they attain five-year residency.

Under current regulations, those who have lived in Jersey for less than five years are prevented from taking up work in many of the roles for which employers are finding it difficult to recruit staff.

Deputy Kovacs also requested that the scheme was extended to spouses, civil partners or eligible partners who are also resident in Jersey, while the proposition's third and final part asks the government to investigate the implications of the temporary reduction of the five-year residency requirement.

Deputy Kovacs said she wanted to address areas where there were staff shortages, such as hospitality, retail, construction and care, saying: "There are skilled people already living here, vacancies for them to fill, and a desperate need for them to do so."

She said: "It would make them likely to want to continue to make Jersey their home, and by allowing partners this as well, they will continue to want to stay here and raise a family."

"This is a unique opportunity that won't come again, where we have a limited time space, with limited consequences, and no impact on housing and benefits."

Deputy Kovacs added: "It will not open any floodgates or cause havoc in the labour market."

However, States Members not associated with Reform Jersey claimed the proposal was under-researched, not rooted in evidence, and too complex to enact.

Pictured: Deputy Lucy Stephenson led the charge against the proposition, speaking for the Chief Minister.

Speaking on behalf of the absent Chief Minister, Deputy Lucy Stephenson said there were "simpler, quicker, and more effective ways to support local businesses experiencing staff shortages" and claimed there would be numerous "drawbacks" to Deputy Kovacs' plan.

These included how individuals would prove continuous residency in Jersey since 2020, that businesses would have a "flow of workers in both directions", with some opting to move toward the finance sector and causing "serious disruption to businesses", and too much administrative strain on the government department which processes changes of entitlement.

Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf claimed the proposal "will lead to job shortages somewhere."