06 January 2009
Work is underway to protect redundant employees in Jersey. An amendment to the Employment (Jersey) Law 2003 was drafted in 2008 which, if adopted by the States, will protect employees who are made redundant.
As recommended by the Employment Forum, that amendment was also intended to protect employees whose employer transfers their business to a new owner. However, due to unexpected delays in finalising that aspect of the law, the Social Security Minister, Deputy Ian Gorst, intends to request that the two provisions are separated in order to ensure that the proposed statutory redundancy payments are debated by the States without further delay.
Deputy Gorst said, “It is vital that we are able to protect employees, particularly in the light of the predicament of staff from Woolworths. While work progresses to introduce redundancy legislation, I will ensure that the establishment and administration of an insolvency fund is given urgent consideration so that payments can be protected for staff whose employers are unable to meet their obligations. Jersey has made significant progress in the development of employment legislation in recent years but, in the current economic climate, it is essential that employees have basic employment rights.
“I will be writing to Woolworths’ administrators to put them under pressure to comply with their obligations under Jersey employment law. Our local Woolworths was the company’s most profitable store, and staff here deserve better.
“With regard to more immediate assistance, we are continuing to provide welfare and support wherever possible for the staff who have lost their jobs. A number of Social Security staff have been nominated as points of contact for the people affected, and
are in regular touch with them. We have arranged specific courses to help them re-enter the job market with confidence, and are continuing to work with our colleagues in EDD and JACS to help people through this worrying time.”
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