17 May 2017
Ministers are planning to increase fees under the Control of Housing and Work Law to invest more in migration controls and skills development to support businesses.
The changes include new annual fees for businesses employing registered staff and employment agencies placing registered staff, and a rise in the fees payable by contractors visiting Jersey.
The measures will raise £600,000 per year, which will be used as follows
- £300,000 dedicated funding to support additional investment in skills and training – this money will support the conclusions of the new skills strategy, working with employers where investment is needed most
- £300,000 to fund migration controls, including initiatives to remove permissions from businesses, and to support compliance activities.
Net migration in 2015 was 1,500, and is expected to remain at a similar level for 2016 as our economy continues to perform well.
These measures will help support local employment, while investing in the skills of our local workforce.
The full range of changes proposed are
- Increasing the maximum amount payable by visiting businesses in any one year from £1,500 to £3,500
- Uprating the cost of a registration card for registered and licensed people from £75 to £80 (cards for entitled and entitled to work people remain free)
- Increasing the amounts paid by new High Value Residents for registration cards when they arrive, from £5,000 to £7,500
- Increasing the cost of employing a licensed employee from £175 to £225 per year
- A new charge of £500 for companies (not individuals) seeking permission to purchase land or property
- A new fee for employment agencies of £500 for every registered member of staff they are permitted
- A £50 fee payable each year by business for each permission they hold to employ a registered member of staff
The Assistant Chief Minister, Senator Paul Routier MBE, said “The Council of Ministers supports targeted and managed migration that improves productivity and protects our economy. We are an aging population in a changing and uncertain world, so we will continue to need people with new or specialised skills to move to Jersey. However, migration has been too high in recent years.
“The approved Medium Term Financial Plan included fee increases. The States is investing considerable amounts in health and education, including £40 million extra in our health service by 2019 as our society ages. These demands on the public purse will grow in the future, so it is right that migration controls and increased investment in skills are funded by people moving to Jersey, businesses who employ migrants, and businesses visiting the Island.”
Fees have not increased since this law was introduced four years ago (1st July, 2013).
gov.je