Minister approves Minimum Wage for 2008

The Social Security Minister has considered and approved the Employment Forum’s latest recommendation for the minimum wage rate of £5.80, which would be implemented on 1 April 2008.

The Employment Forum carried out a review of the minimum wage in October 2006 which, recommended that the minimum wage should be increased by a formula in future to allow businesses six months notice of the new rates.

On this occasion, that formula increased the minimum wage by 7.4 per cent - equivalent to the increase in the overall average weekly earnings, as provided by the June 2007 average earnings statistics.

The purpose of the Forum’s latest recommendation is to seek the Social Security Minister’s approval of the minimum wage, trainee rate and offsets resulting from that formula.

Social Security Minister, Senator Paul Routier, said “I am pleased to announce that I have accepted the Forum’s recommendation of a £5.80 minimum wage as sensible and appropriate for the local economy. Preparations are now underway to amend the relevant legislation, some of which will require States approval.”

The Forum’sfull recommendation is available on the States website
 http://www.gov.je/ChiefMinister/PublicConsultations/Past+consultations/

Copies of the Forum’s recommendation may also be obtained from Kate Morel, k.morel@gov.je or 447203

Page Last Updated: 03/10/2007