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Healthcare should be available immediately for those who move to Jersey after obtaining work permits, an influential voice in the care sector has said.
The Jersey Care Federation has expressed support for several of the measures proposed by a Scrutiny panel, but wants more to be done.
The Work Permit Holder Welfare review panel has made a series of recommendations regarding the policy, including the provision of clearer information for prospective overseas workers, streamlining of processes, support for employers, further consultation and key policy changes.
Care Federation Chair, Cheryl Kenealy welcomed the panel's suggestions, but cited a number of additional areas where the federation wanted further action.
She said: "We believe that the provision of healthcare on arrival, at the same time that work permit holders begin paying social security contributions, is simply the right thing to do.
"Telling people who are moving their lives to come and work in Jersey that for the first six months, they will not have healthcare if they require things like basic repeat prescriptions or treatment if they suffer an injury at work makes Jersey uncompetitive in a global marketplace."
Ms Kenealy said she also believed the work permit policy should be more flexible, incorporating different procedures for different sectors, and called for clarification over whether key worker accommodation provided by government in a bid to aid recruitment would be restricted to public sector employees.
The Scrutiny panel has made a series of recommendations to Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles, who pledged on 11 October that she would provide a detailed response "in due course".
FOCUS: Are Jersey's work permit holders safe from exploitation?
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