Proposition to make registered individuals 'Entitled to Work'

Wednesday 28 June 2023

Registered individuals could receive ‘Entitled to Work’ status by September in a bid to address the island’s recruitment shortages, if a proposition is passed by the States Assembly.

Deputy Raluca Kovacs yesterday lodged a proposition calling for a temporary scheme which would allow any registered individual who has been continuously ordinarily resident in Jersey since 31 December 2020 to be eligible for ‘Entitled to Work’ status until December 2025 – or until they attain five-year residency.

Under current regulations, those who have lived in Jersey for less than five years are prevented from taking up work in many of the roles for which employers are finding it difficult to recruit staff, the report stated.

In her proposition, Deputy Kovacs has also requested that the scheme is extended to spouses, civil partners or eligible partners who are also resident in Jersey.

The third and final part of the Reform Jersey deputy's proposition asks the Government to investigate the implications of the temporary reduction of the five-year residency requirement.

Pictured: Deputy Raluca Kovacs has lodged the proposition to help tackle the island's recruitment shortages.

The report accompanying the proposition states that, over the last three years, the island has seen its lowest rates of unemployment since 2011 and employers in various sectors are struggling to recruit.

Deputy Kovacs said: "The Government regulation of employment needs to change in response to this changed situation."

She continued: "The changes I am seeking to the regulations will enable people who are already living in Jersey to take up employment mainly in sectors of the economy, such as hospitality, retail, construction and care, where there are known to be shortages of workers."

The report makes clear that these changes solely relate to employment status and not residential status or access to the housing market or benefits.

Deputy Kovacs continued: "[The changes] therefore have the benefit to the economy of increasing the supply of workers available for roles that are currently restricted
to those with Entitled to Work status without increasing the island's population."

Pictured: Deputy Kovacs hopes that the changes could enable people already living in Jersey to take up employment in sectors which are facing work shortages, such as hospitality.

"The rationale behind this proposition was to identify how we can make better and quicker use of the workforce already available in the island," she added.

"The number impacted are not huge, but will be a step towards filling employment gaps and contributing more to the island economy."

According to 2021 census data, 4,550 people in Jersey are registered, 5,454 are Entitled to Work and 2,106 are Licensed.

Deputy Kovacs' proposition – which is due for debate on 13 July – follows the approval of a similar proposition last month which allowed unmarried partners to have the same employment rights as married couples.

States Members voted to alter to the Control of Housing and Work (Residential and Employment Status) Regulations, meaning that, provided an individual's partner holds Entitled, Entitled to Work or Licensed status, the unmarried partner can be granted Entitled for Work Only status and the ability to access the full local labour market, including "essential roles".