Employment Forum Membership: Extension of Term of Office

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A decision made 14 November 2014:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2014-0144
Decision Summary Title :	DS - Employment Forum membership extension - Robinson		Date of Decision Summary:	14 November 2014
Decision Summary Author:	Policy Principal		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	WR – Employment Forum membership extension - Robinson		Date of Written Report:	14 November 2014
Written Report Author:	Policy Principal		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Employment Forum Membership – extension of term of office
Decision(s): The Minister decided to extend Mr David Robinson’s term of office as a member of the Employment Forum for one year to 31 December 2015.
Reason(s) for Decision: Schedule 2 to the Employment (Jersey) Law 2003 requires that members of the Employment Forum must be appointed by the Minister for Social Security. In accordance with best practice, members generally hold office for a maximum of 10 years. Mr David Robinson has served nine years as a member of the Employment Forum and his current term of office is due to end on 31 December 2014. Mr Robinson requested a one year extension to 31 December 2015 and the Minister was asked to approve the extension.
Resource Implications: There are no financial or manpower implications.
Action required: Policy Principal to advise Mr Robinson that his term of office has been extended. The Employment Law does not require that the States is notified.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Employment Forum Membership: Extension of Term of Office

Employment Forum Membership

Background

The Employment (Jersey) Law 2003 (the ‘Employment Law’) provides that the Employment Forum (the ‘Forum’) consists of eight members and a Chairman who are appointed by the Minister for Social Security (the ‘Minister’). Members are appointed having regard to the desirability of securing an appropriate balance between members with experience as employers, members with experience as employees and members with other relevant experience.

Although the Employment Law does not set a maximum term of office for a Forum member, the Forum has proposed that, in accordance with best practice, terms of office should be limited to a total of 10 years, other than in exceptional circumstances. It is vital to provide a balance between introducing new perspectives and skills, as well as providing some continuity amongst the membership with the retention of knowledge and experience.

The current members and their terms of office are as follows:

	Term of office end date	Proposed end date
Independent
Helen Ruelle	30 November 2015
Malcolm Ferey	17 October 2017
Gary Jones	30 April 2017

Employer
Jeralie Pallot	31 May 2017
Thomas Quinlan	30 November 2015
Julie Fairclough	17 October 2017

Employee
David Robinson	31 December 2014	31 December 2015
Barbara Ward	30 November 2015
Gary Du Heaume	31 July 2017

Recommendation

Mr David Robinson has served 9 nine years as an employee representative member of the Employment Forum, including 2 years as Chairman. It is recommended that the Minister agrees to extend Mr Robinson’s term of office for one year to 31 December 2015.

Mr Robinson has been employed by Jersey Electricity for 25 years as an Electrical Engineer. Mr Robinson is currently the Member’s Nominated Pension Trustee for the Jersey Electricity pension scheme and he is a member of the Prospect Union Negotiating Committee, of which he was Chairman for 12 years. Mr Robinson has previously served as the Chairman and as a Committee Member of the British Show Jumping Association, Jersey.