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Jersey's Population Policy: Criminal record checks and work permits

Jersey's Population Policy: Criminal record checks and work permits

Wednesday 09 August 2017

Jersey's Population Policy: Criminal record checks and work permits

Wednesday 09 August 2017


A draft Population Policy which could see the introduction of work permits, and criminal record checks for all new migrants is being finalised for the States to debate in the autumn.

Those looking to move to the island may have to face criminal record checks and apply for work permits under the new Population Policy.

The Population Office is also looking to introduce registration cards with photographic identification.

These controls are part of an effort to crack down on net inward migration, which, according to the Statistics Unit, brought 1,300 people to Jersey in 2016.

The new Population Policy, which is currently being finalised before it is lodged in the States Chamber for debate, will operate in combination with the Population Office's latest efforts to revoke permanent registered permissions and increase licensing fees. 

ChangeInJerseysResidentPopulation2001To2016.png

Pictured: Statistics Unit report on Jersey's resident population 2001-2016.

These new measures, which were announced in January, have seen a sharp rise in the number of permissions revoked over the last year. 

In the last six months, the Population Office has revoked 283 permanent registered permissions, which is 236 more than were revoked in the first six months of 2016.

Permissions_revoked.png

Pictured: The Population Office announced new measures to reduce the number of employment permissions for new migrants in January (Population Office - Quarterly Statistics).

In an effort to encourage workers in the hospitality and agriculture sectors, 161 seasonal permissions have been granted in the last six months. 

The sectors that hold the most registered permissions are the hospitality, agriculture and fishing, and financial and legal sectors. 

Assistant Chief Minister, Senator Paul Routier, said: “The decision to remove permanent permissions from businesses that hold more than the average for their industry, while also granting retail, agriculture and hospitality industries more seasonal work permissions, is part of a wider population policy to enhance our migration controls.

“Unemployment is at its lowest level for more than seven years, and this does make recruitment more difficult. However, islanders are concerned at the level of migration, which has been higher than we would like. This is a small island, and our challenge is to balance sustainable migration that supports our economy with the need to protect our environment and deliver sufficient quality housing.”

To read the full Population Office Quarterly Report, click here.

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