'Living Wage' Call For States' Bodies

Monday, 31 January 2022 09:54

All States-owned bodies will be told to be officially accredited 'Living Wage' employers by the end of this year, if a States proposition is approved in March.

The States voted in 2018 to ask the Treasury Minister to urge these bodies to seek accreditation.

Deputy Susie Pinel was asked, in the last States sitting, who had achieved that;

"All employees of the wholly-owned States' entities are paid the Living Wage level, and many of them above. Jersey Telecom and the States of Jersey Development Company are officially accredited Living Wage employers."

She adds that Ports of Jersey and Andium are working towards achieving their accreditation this year.

Living Wage accreditation is overseen by the charity Caritas. Employers must pay all staff at least £11.27 per hour, and their sub-contractors must also pay their staff that hourly rate as a minimum.

Reform Jersey party leader Senator Sam Mezec has lodged the latest proposition.

“Reform Jersey wishes to see the end of poverty wages here, and we have brought forward numerous propositions in the Assembly to move the Minimum Wage towards the Living Wage, but we have been thwarted each time.

Now, in the dying days of this electoral term, we are asking the States to make at least one positive move to help secure improved conditions for some workers in Jersey.”