Minimum wage hike?

Wednesday 14 January 2015

Jersey could have a new “living wage” that would increase living standards for the lowest-paid and help to reduce the Income Support burden, if the States agree a proposal next week.

Reform Jersey member Deputy Geoff Southern is taking a two-part proposition to the States to increase the minimum wage by a further 10p to £6.88 per hour from April, and he also wants the States to agree to an investigation into a big rise.

The proposition is one of several listed for the week – the others include a proposal for public access to Council of Ministers meetings, a covenant guaranteeing better standards of support for former servicemen, and for the States to block plans to redevelop the Gas Place site and to extend the Millennium Town Park instead.

Reform Jersey say that following on from Chief Minister Ian Gorst’s promise to focus his new ministerial team on tackling poverty in Jersey, the debate is the perfect opportunity for Members to make a clear statement of intent.

Chairman Sam Mézec said “Given the shocking reports we have seen in the media recently about the rise in the number of working families having to turn to food banks, it was very pleasing to see the Chief Minister commit to trying to reduce poverty this year, however, he gave no indications or commitments as to how he intends to achieve this.”

“Often in politics we see States Members with plenty to say but who never follow it through with action. So thankfully there is now a perfect opportunity for the Chief Minister to demonstrate that he is serious about reducing poverty by backing our proposition to raise the minimum wage and investigate a further raise with the specific aim of reducing poverty.”

“It should always pay to be in work, and a situation where a couple can’t afford to make ends meet without resorting to Income Support and charity, despite both being in full time work, should be considered intolerable to any politician with a social conscience.”