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Tuesday 11 June 2019

Jersey workers could be set to gain more time off, as the Social Security Minister looks to bring the island in line with the UK's minimum of 28 days' holiday.

With Jersey having hit the 10-year mark since falling behind the UK on holiday time, Deputy Judy Martin made a check-up on the island's statutory holiday entitlements a "priority" during her tenure.

The Minister has therefore directed the Employment Forum – the panel that advises her on employment legislation – to conduct a review into the minimum of holiday time an employer should be contractually obligated to give their workers.

Pictured: The charge for the holiday review is being led by Social Security Minister Deputy Judy Martin.

Asked for the rationale behind this piece of consultation work, a spokesperson for the department told Express: “When Jersey’s Employment Law came into force in 2005, our period of statutory annual leave was similar to the UK.

"However, the annual leave entitlement in the UK was increased to 28 days (5.6 weeks) by 2009.”

They explained that this far outweighs the minimum entitlement in Jersey which, including public and bank holidays, amounts to around 19 days for most workers.

“Any further rationale for potential law change will be provided in a recommendation from the Forum following consultation," they added.

Pictured: The intention to conduct a review emerged as a result of a written question in the last States sitting.

The Forum are currently consulting on minimum wage until 1 August and the holiday review will follow later in the year, but a date has not yet been fixed for it.

The Minister will also be looking at the number of rest breaks employers should afford their workers.

In response to questioning from Deputy Geoff Southern, Deputy Martin also said that "a piece of work looking at zero-hour contracts would be initiated in 2020."