Ministers signal moves to relax immigration policy

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Immigration controls look set to be loosened to make it easier to bring skilled and qualified people into Jersey to get the Island back on the path to economic growth.

Both Chief Minister Ian Gorst and Assistant Chief Minister Philip Ozouf signalled a change to population policy during the presentation of a new Innovation Review on Friday.

That report highlighted a lack of States’ support for innovation – both in terms of allowing people into the Island and in terms of financial support.

When they were asked whether there was enough “political leadership” to challenge a staunchly anti-immigration public, Senator Gorst said that the mood among politicians at least was changing.

Last year’s Jersey Annual Social Survey showed that the job of “controlling the population level” was the most important task for the States, with 62% of respondents citing it as a “very high priority”.

That is likely to be a big problem for politicians over the next couple of years – growing and diversifying Jersey’s economy effectively relies on bringing skilled people in.

Even sticking with the current policy is not a feasible option – the current arrangement is for a target of 325 newcomers per year, but since that policy was introduced in 2009 it has been broken every single year, with the average number being 575.

That policy runs out next year, and Senator Gorst has given the clearest indication yet that the new version will be even more relaxed.

At the innovation event, he said: “I think that this issue has been handled a lot more positively than it has previously. Some politicians have got difficult decisions to make. We had a briefing for States Members only an hour ago and even there I think the tide is turning – a lot are wanting to understand.

“Have we really done good analysis of what the economic value is?”

And that was backed by Senator Ozouf, who said: “Immigration is absolutely vital. We want the right type of immigration. That is what people in the population office have been reaching for.

“The message that went out that we are ‘closed for business’ – how damaging was that for Jersey? For high value, high potential, tech driven investment we are going to allow innovative people in.”