Farmers worried about getting staff following States living wage decision

Thursday 22 February 2018

There’s concern the States vote to pay all government employees, as well as contracted workers and those working for the States-owned companies, a ‘living wage’ will exacerbate the struggle to recruit workers in agriculture.

Reform Jersey Vice-Chairman Deputy Geoff Southern received the backing of the full States assembly – with only one abstention – for his move to make the States of Jersey a ‘living wage’ accredited employer; meaning that all staff, including sub-contractors and agency workers, will earn enough to afford a basic, but 'socially acceptable' standard of living.

Deputy Southern described the vote as a: “Historic day for Jersey. This will make a significant difference to the economy of the island and to low paid workers in particular and it will be beneficial to the economy generally. I think it is a significant, magnificent day.”

He hopes the introduction of a ‘living wage’ based on the London rate of £9.75 will entice the private sector to follow suit saying: “I think part of the reason for bringing the proposition was to set an example. It’s been very slow to take off despite the fact we have a finance industry which could easily cope with the ‘living wage’ yet they haven’t been knocking the door saying please can we get accreditation. I think we can do a lot better.”

But where the finance industry may be able to afford the increased rate of pay, others say they can’t.

Pictured: Deputy Geoff Southern described the 'living wage' vote as a "historic day for Jersey."

Chairman of the Jersey Farmers Union, Peter Le Maistre, said the move will put pressure on the industry to pay workers more than the minimum wage, which currently stands at an hourly rate of £7.18. He said although most workers are paid this minimum rate, they are provided with cheap accommodation and they also benefit from not having to pay for parking or travelling to work costs.

Mr Le Maistre is worried that the introduction of the living wage will, “push wages up in the island making it very difficult to attract workers into agriculture as they could earn more elsewhere, including the gardening services sub-contracted by the States.”

He explained that recruitment in agriculture “is very difficult” and that the struggle is a British problem, not just a Jersey one. The Jersey Farming Union are currently waiting to hear back from States, after they approached them about employing workers from outside the European Union.

This was a concern raised by Deputy Eddie Noel during the ‘living wage’ debate in the States yesterday, and it was suggested using the farmers’ subsidy to help with the extra costs. 

Deputy Southern told Express that the ‘living wage’ accreditation is “completely voluntary” and “solutions can be found over time.”

The States' vote also instructs the Treasury Minister, as shareholder representative of the States-owned companies, to urge them to also pay a minimum of a ‘living wage’ which comes into effect on 1 June 2018, or when current contracts are up for renewal.