Chief Minister pledges more help to start your own business

Monday 27 October 2014

People working in small businesses will have to work longer before having the right to file unfair dismissal claims, under plans floated by Chief Minister Ian Gorst.

The proposals are part of a set of ideas that Senator Gorst wants to pursue to make it easier for small businesses, and to make it more attractive to start your own company. The plans would also see self-employed low earners pay less Social Security, while benefit claimants may be able to earn more from doing some part-time work without seeing their Income Support payments reduced.

The proposals are all contained in papers filed by Senator Gorst on Friday afternoon that set out his priorities as the leader of Jersey’s government for the next three-and-a-half years. As Senator Gorst was the only candidate to file papers by the 5 pm deadline, he was re-elected to the role unopposed.

He now has a week to put together a team of ministerial nominees – the key potential challenger, Senator Alan Maclean, says he will be Senator Gorst’s nominee for the crucial Treasury Minister role – before he takes his proposals to the States. It is up to the rest of the States Chamber to accept the Chief Minister’s nominees, or replace them with alternative candidates nominated from the floor. So far, every Chief Minister has had at least one ministerial nominee rejected.

In his papers, Senator Gorst also called for a disability strategy, an updated mental health law and further discrimination law, as well as more home-building, a new “grand committee” of States Members on electoral reform, and more support for the “Back to Work” programme.

Senator Gorst also called for more action on an area that has not seen a great deal of political attention for some time: education.

He said: “To make sure that our school leavers are best placed to fill the job opportunities that arise, I will be continuing efforts to raise academic standards and vocational opportunities in our schools and colleges.

“The new Council of Ministers will need to spend considerable time supporting Education. We need to be certain that all our young people are given the best opportunity to reach their full potential.”