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 limit the term of appointment that a Forum member may hold, the Forum has proposed that, in accordance with good practice, membership 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.
Recruitment of new member
Mr Ian Syvret had resigned from the Forum in October 2013. The Forum advertised during January and February 2014 and one candidate was interviewed for this position. The Forum was not able to recommend an ‘employee’ member to replace Mr Syvret and so the Forum agreed to re-advertise later in 2014.
The vacancy was openly advertised for a second time between 27 May and 13 June 2014. An advertisement was placed in the Jersey Evening Post, on the ‘Jobs in Jersey’ website and was sent to those on the Forum’s consultation database (approximately 300 contacts, including employers and employees, trade unions and employers’ associations).
When recruiting, the Forum’s priorities are to ensure that the nine members cover the widest range of skills, expertise and industry types possible, that members have recent knowledge and relevant experience of employment relations issues, and that members have an interest in employment policy and legislation generally.
Two candidates were interviewed in June 2014 by current Forum members Helen Ruelle (Chairman) and Malcolm Ferey (Deputy Chairman) and best practice was followed in the recruitment process. Following consultation with the other members of the Forum, Mr Gary Du Heaume was recommended for appointment.
Mt Du Heaume is employed as a bus driver for Liberty Bus and he is currently a shop steward and secretary for Unite the Union having been a member of Unite since 2006. As a shop steward, Mr Du Heaume has undertaken the first stage of Unite’s workplace representatives training course and he regularly represents Liberty Bus staff in workplace matters including disciplinary and grievance hearings.
Recommendation
Appoint Mr Gary Du Heaume as an employee member of the Employment Forum for a three year term of office starting on 1 August 2014.
The current members and their terms of office are as follows:
| Term of office end date |
Independent | |
Helen Ruelle | 30 November 2015 |
Malcolm Ferey | 17 October 2014 |
Gary Jones | 30 April 2017 |
| |
Employer | |
Jeralie Pallot | 31 May 2017 |
Thomas Quinlan | 30 November 2015 |
Julie Fairclough | 17 October 2014 |
| |
Employee | |
David Robinson | 31 December 2014 |
Barbara Ward | 30 November 2015 |
Vacant | |