Pub leader slams 'migrant tax' in critical letter to States

Monday 24 July 2017

The head of one of the Island’s largest pub chains has hit out at “penalising” new charges for employing non-local people, and says that he would readily employ more Jersey staff - if he could find any.

In a deeply critical letter addressed to Senator Paul Routier - the Assistant Minister with responsibility for population policy - Randalls’ Managing Director Gavin Reid took aim at the new charges, which he described as a “cost burden” that would unnecessarily damage the already struggling hospitality industry.

His letter came as charges aimed at cracking down on immigration were approved by the States Assembly last week. Under the new rules, cards for licensed and registered people will rise from £75 to £80, while businesses will now be forced to pay a £50 annual fee to maintain their non-local staff.

“I would therefore ask Senator if you have actually researched and considered how many "local" people actually want to work in the hospitality sector? From my experience very few. If I could employ competent, skilled and willing local individuals to service our managed house estate then I would welcome any initiative to find them,” Mr Reid wrote.

Pictured: The Managing Director of Randalls, which has been operating pubs island-wide since the 1800s, said that he would welcome "any initiative" to find willing and competent local workers, but had so far been unsuccessful in finding any.

He stated that the members of the industry felt punished “despite our efforts”, and that the number of vacancies for Hospitality and Catering on the States website evidenced local people’s aversion to the sector: “On the States Jobs Website there are 478 vacancies available today and of those 174 are for positions within the Hospitality & Catering sector representing 36% of total jobs available.  Surely if the local unemployed were keen to work in our industry then this figure would be significantly lower but the matter of fact is local people do not want to work in this industry.”

Mr Reid added that too much emphasis had been placed on protecting Jersey’s finance industry - the “Golden Goose of Jersey” - with little regard to the fact that a “vibrant and varied hospitality industry” would be necessary to attract “successful and talented” individuals to the Island’s finance houses.

“By introducing further fees, future investment in our businesses has to be questioned and regretfully some of our smaller outlets will be placed in a very precarious position in what already are very difficult market conditions. As we face further cost burdens along the line such a waste charges, increased duty, increased liquor licence fees etc. there has to be future consideration and a sensible approach to doing business in Jersey. It is only a matter of time before we see the domino effect kick in.”

He's not the first to take aim at the controversial charges. Eliot Lincoln, President of the Chamber of Commmerce, called for a "sensible debate" about population policy back in May, arguing that the business lobby group had not been properly consulted prior to the charges' announcement.