IoD welcomes population plan

Tuesday 12 December 2017

Business leaders in Jersey have welcomed the publication of the island's long-awaited policy to control the number of people living here.

Published by Ministers last week, it doesn't specify a target migration number, but it does say that the average net migration over the next 20 years will need to be less than recent levels.

It proposes making changes such as extending the current work permits scheme, photos on ID cards and tougher criminal checks on immigrants. 

The Chairman of the Jersey branch of the Institute of Directors, Chris Clark, has now welcomed the plan:

“Living on an island, we acknowledge that with any policy there will need be compromise but I am hopeful that with proper dialogue and a pragmatic approach the new policy can provide benefit to all: whether that is business, large or small; workers in finance or in hospitality; young and old; rich and poor; local or migrant.

Pictured: Chris Clark, Chairman of the IoD in Jersey. 

“Upon first reading, a renewed focus on education and training must be at the forefront of the new policy as the education statics reproduced make fairly grim reading especially if one factors in the number of islanders who go to university and do not return to the island. The IoD have consistently stated that local businesses are struggling to recruit 21-29 year olds and at our lunch on Thursday 7th December, we re-iterated the need for a mechanism to maintain this inward flow of educated young talent to support industry, and the hospitality sector alike.

Full house at our Annual lunch today. Thank you @Ian_Gorst for sharing the achievements of 2017 and the opportunities for 2018. Thank you #hsbc for sponsoring and the Grand Hotel for catering for 150 of our members - a superb end to a prosperous year - Happy Christmas! pic.twitter.com/LOKjiqGbHq

— IoD Jersey (@iodjersey) December 7, 2017

“We note the proposed introduction of a photographic identity card. Whilst appearing to attract negative responses, to the IoD this appears to be a logical mechanism, especially if it can have multiple purposes such as to streamline processes around employment, tax, social and housing and enable eGovernment by supporting a Digital ID framework. Transparency around purpose and the efficiencies an identity card can bring to Government should be considered and promoted accordingly.

“Finally, we would strongly hope that we, as an island, do not become fixated simply on numbers and negative sentiment around migration. There is substantially more to a workable policy than can be being judged on a net migration number, balancing the age profile of our workforce is a critical factor to sustainable services for the older generations. If we simply look at numbers we will never achieve the optimal result. We must welcome people from all over the world and build a vibrant, diverse, resilient community enabling a prosperous economy to ensure that the Island is indeed sustainable.”