Timetable set for Control of Housing and Work Law

30 July 2012

​The new Control of Housing and Work Law is expected to be considered by the Privy Council at its next meeting in October. However, the underlying regulations will need to be lodged and debated, which means that the law is likely to be implemented in February 2013.

The law was submitted to the Privy Council immediately after the States debate and all appropriate representations have been made to secure the earliest possible approval date.

Assistant Chief Minister, Senator Paul Routier, said “I am disappointed that the law could not be ratified by the Privy Council any earlier, as this legislation is an essential component in achieving our strategic objectives of limiting immigration and securing employment for locally qualified people. However, we are continuing to apply our existing legislation to its full extent to control immigration and help unemployed Islanders find work.”

The Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, said “The firmer application of our existing laws is a clear response to the current economic climate. We will continue on this course, while also offering support to unemployed islanders and employers through the Back to Work programme. In doing this, we must also ensure that Jersey remains ‘open for business’ when considering requests that safeguard and create local jobs.”

As outlined in the States Strategic Plan, a population policy debate is scheduled for July 2013. This allows time for the population model to be amended to take account of the most recent census information and for a full and inclusive public consultation on this important subject.

In the meantime, work is well underway to prepare for the new law, including the creation of a population register and new registration cards. Other measures are also being considered to control immigration, including a review of access to benefits and services by non-locally qualified persons, a review of the 5 year employment rule, and consideration of whether people with serious criminal records can be prevented from working in the Island.