What’s your wager on next year’s minimum hourly rate?

Thursday 19 June 2014

Do you earn the minimum wage and is it enough for you to live on?

The Employment Forum wants to know what changes you and your employer think should be made to the minimum wage from next April.

At the moment the rate is £6.63 per hour, £4.97 per hour for people in their first year of training going up to £5.80 per hour for those in their second year.

The States set a target four years ago to make the minimum wage 45% of average earnings by 2026, something it wants the Forum to keep in mind when making recommendations. If the figure was set at that level today - those on the minimum wage would get £7.43 per hour – 11% more than they currently get.

Chair of the Employment Forum Helen Ruelle said: “As part of our review, we are asking the public to tell us what rate they think the minimum wage should be set at from April next year.

“We would particularly like to hear from minimum wage earners and employers who pay the minimum wage. We are also asking businesses in what circumstances they might be able to tolerate greater minimum wage increases in the future.”

As well as considering all the responses it gets, the Forum will look at the economy and wages in the Island before making a recommendation to the Social Security Minister. If Senator Francis Le Gresley approves the recommendations, he’ll propose changes to the law later this year.

The minimum wage survey is available online www.gov.je/consult and copies can be obtained by emailing E.Forum@gov.je, telephoning 447203, or from the Social Security Department reception desk.  You can also set up a private meeting with the Employment Forum.

Comments must be in by 8 August 2014.