21 June 2023
The Minister for Social Security, Deputy Elaine Millar, has published her response to
the Employment Forum’s recent report on the operation of zero-hour contracts in Jersey,
together with its review of specific employment protections.
The Minister said: “I’m very grateful to the Forum for its report and I have decided to
accept each of its recommendations. Jersey’s employment legislation must achieve the
right balance between employer and employee. As the Forum reports, work needs to be
done to improve understanding among employees and employers about their rights and
responsibilities. I make it clear in my response to the Forum’s report that there are many
ways we can achieve this and we’ll be working within Government and with other partners
to make sure we make positive progress during 2023.
"I’ll also seek an amendment to the Employment Law to give employees an additional right
to request a variation in their contracts. Such an amendment would enable an employee to
ask for a contract of employment which reflects the reality of their working pattern. In its
report, the Forum took evidence that some employees on a zero-hour contract were in fact
working consistently full-time or part-time hours. This is something a change in the law will
help to deal with.
“I’ve also asked the Forum to carry out a consultation exercise on the level of
compensation awards which the Employment Tribunal is able to make in cases where a
person’s employment rights have been breached. The current award levels have been in
place for many years and I’ve asked the Forum to consider whether they’re still adequate. I
look forward to receiving its recommendations in due course.”
The full report can be found online
gov.je