Slight rise in minimum wage as forum says “it’s tough out there”

Thursday 25 September 2014

It’s still tough to find work, according to the chairman of the independent group that sets the minimum wage.

The Employment Forum says that it is proposing a rise slightly over RPI that would take the minimum wage to £6.78 per hour from 1 April – they say that the minimum wage is still higher here than in the UK, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

But the chairman, Advocate Helen Ruelle, said that although there were some good signs out there, the outlook wasn’t all that great.

She said: “The Forum considered all of the evidence and we concluded that, although there are some positive signs and optimism for economic growth in comparison to recent years, the labour market in Jersey is still relatively weak and economic conditions for Jersey continue to be uncertain.

“There was less employer adversity to a minimum wage increase this year, but we recognised that appropriate caution continues to be essential at this point until there is evidence of an improvement.

”We will look for that evidence again next year. On balance, the Forum has recommended an increase that exceeds the latest increase in the cost of living but is slightly below the increase in average earnings.”

The forum is made up of representatives of employers and employees, and makes recommendations to the Social Security Minister on employment law and policy as well as the minimum wage.

The issue will be dealt with by the next States Chamber that takes office after the election on 15 October.