08 June 2012
The new Control of Housing and Work Law will cost slightly less to administer than the current Housing and Regulation of Undertakings Law, which is being repealed.
The new law, which is being introduced in Autumn 2012, will enable fees to be charged and will provide a more robust and efficient system of immigration control.
The Chair of the Migration Advisory Group, Senator Paul Routier, said “It is vitally important that Jersey effectively manages population growth and immigration. We believe the costs of doing this should mainly be met by new migrants and contractors who come to Jersey, not by the tax payers and home owners as they are now.”
The current £70 fee levied for consent to purchase housing would be abolished and it is proposed that new fees be charged for:
- new migrants coming to Jersey
- contractors coming to Jersey to take on work
- local businesses employing high value migrants
Senator Routier added “These latest proposals have been carefully designed to eliminate fees for established residents and reflecting on the current economic climate. However, it is most important that we hear the views of Islanders and businesses before we decide who pays for our immigration controls.”
The consultation runs until 25 July 2012 and the consultation paper is available online and from the States Greffe bookshop in Morier House.