Politicians back bringing trainee rates in line with minimum wage

Thursday 02 March 2023

States Members have backed a proposal from a St. Helier Deputy to bring trainee rates in line with the minimum wage.

The proposition from Deputy Max Andrews was approved with 41 votes in favour and seven against.

Deputy Max Andrews’s proposition received "in principle" backing from Social Security Minister Elaine Millar.

She amended the proposition, arguing that trainee rates should be harmonised with the minimum wage, rather than abolished altogether.

The minister had previously argued that harmonisation of the rates would allow greater flexibility, enabling trainee wage rates to be reintroduced at different levels in the future if labour market conditions were to change.

The minimum hourly rates for first- and second-year trainees are £7.87 and £9.19 respectively.

Pictured: Deputy Max Andrews' proposition received in principle backing from Social Security Minister Deputy Elaine Millar. 

Deputy Andrews referred to data published by Statistics Jersey in 2016 in a report outlining his proposition. It showed that fewer than 100 people received the minimum trainee wage.

He said: "It seems peculiar to maintain the trainee minimum-wage rates, which are £2.63 and £1.31 below the current minimum [hourly] wage rate."

In a report presented to the States Assembly in September, the Jersey Employment Forum stated that there appeared to be little justification for retaining trainee rates as part of the minimum-wage structure in Jersey.

The forum said the current situation created anomalies, and that all employees needed training to be effective and to acquire skills.