Social Security Minister defends zero-hour contracts

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Jersey’s Social Security Minister has hit back against a highly critical investigation into zero-hour contracts, and says legislating against the practice would divert her department’s energy from more urgent needs.

A recent report by the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel into zero-hour contracts made 17 key findings and 21 recommendations. These included bringing in new laws or making amendments to existing laws.

Deputy Susie Pinel says whilst she welcomes the report, “recommendations to create new legislation for zero-hour contracts would divert considerable resources”, and that she was “not willing to delay the work her department has planned: supporting working parents and those with a disability”, to change laws which she believes would bring little benefit.

According to Deputy Pinel “over-regulating the law is likely to remove flexibility for both parties, and brings the risk that some employers might seek to avoid employment protection in other ways. Our Employment Law is currently straightforward and it provides a good balance between rights and responsibilities for employees and employers, as well as being appropriate for the size of Jersey.”

In a 28-page reply to scrutiny’s report Social Security tackles each of the recommendations one by one. The department begins by saying “there is a disappointing lack of local evidence by the Panel to support its recommendations.” It then goes on to say why it rejects most of the proposals.

The Minister though, does say she’s willing to act on six of the recommendations: including one to improve publicity and circulation of the guidance on zero-hour contracts, and another to promote and encourage good employment practice.