Minimum wage consultation extended until September

A consultation into the future rates of minimum wage in Jersey has been extended.

​The Jersey Employment Forum said the consultation was now due to end on 18 September "in the light of recent interest".

The forum is a statutory, non-political and independent body, made up of employee, employer and independent representatives.

Jersey's chief minister, Lyndon Farnham said the government had "no plans" to abolish the island's minimum wage, which was increased from £13 an hour to £13.59 in April.

Farnham's was speaking in response to comments made from the Sustainable Economic Development Minister Gerald Voisin, who suggested that the minimum wage was "strangling our economy".

Farnham said the Voisin's views did not reflect that of the government or States Assembly.

Businesses, charities and politicians reacted to Voisin's criticism of the minimum wage, with one coffee shop-owner calling his comments "madness", while a charity said they were "very sinister".

Voisin later apologised and said he was not calling for the abolition of the minimum wage rather raising points which he felt "had been lacking".

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