Jersey’s main minimum wage rate is set to rise to £13.97 an hour in April after the Social Security Minister accepted the Employment Forum’s recommendation of a 2.8% increase.
The rise is line with Jersey’s June 2026 RPI figure.
Additionally, Social Security Minister Elaine Millar accepted a recommendation to implement an equivalent increase in the allowances available to employers for the provision of accommodation and meals to those employees earning the main minimum wage rate.
She also agreed that the Year 1 and Year 2 trainee minimum wage rates should remain at £10.50 per hour and £11.75 per hour respectively for one more year from April.
The Employment Forum is an independent, non-political public body comprising employee and employer representatives, together with independent members.
We recognise that these are still challenging times for businesses and employees, and the Forum has endeavoured to reflect that in our recommendations
Employment Forum chair Carla Benest
Its recommendations came alongside its newly-published report, which cited a range of relevant data taken into consideration – including Statistics Jersey’s Index of Average Earnings for June released in August.
Carla Benest, who chairs the Employment Forum, said that she was “pleased” it had been able to make the recommendations to the minister.
She continued: “We’re extremely grateful for the engagement with employees and employers and business and trade union organisations.
“We recognise that these are still challenging times for businesses and employees, and the Forum has endeavoured to reflect that in our recommendations.”
Earlier this year, Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham and Economic Development Minister Gerald Voisin sought to reassure islanders that there was “no intention of abolishing the statutory minimum wage”, following controversial comments made by the latter minister in a letter to the Jersey Evening Post.
Senator Millar said that she was grateful to the chair and members of the Employment Forum for their “thorough” work, noting that “their task this year has been particularly challenging” in light of “the significant public interest that this issue has aroused”.
The minister stated: “I have decided to accept the Forum’s recommendations in respect of the main minimum wage and trainee minimum wage rates, and the offset rates which apply to accommodation and meals for those employees who are paid the minimum wage.
She continued: “The Forum’s report also reflected on the debate about a youth rate and possible changes to the way in which the formal trainee minimum wage policy is currently set.
“I will consider carefully the arguments that have emerged from the Forum’s consultation exercise, and in particular whether a further consultation on these aspects should take place.”
