JobsFest Employer Incentive

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A decision made 1 November 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2013-0113
Decision Summary Title	JobsFest Employer Incentive		Date of Decision Summary:	31 October 2013
Decision Summary Author:	Operations Director		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title	Back to Work JobsFest Employer Incentive Guidelines		Date of Written Report:	26 September 2013
Written Report Author:	Operations Director		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: JobsFest Employer Incentive
Decision(s): The Minister decided to implement a non-statutory JobsFest Employer Incentive to provide financial support to employers to recruit locally qualified jobseekers for up to eight weeks at no financial cost.
Reason(s) for Decision: Under the JobsFest Employer Incentive, up to eight weeks wages and Social Security contributions will be paid to employers who hire locally qualified jobseekers that have been registered as actively seeking work throughout 2013. The incentive will run from 7 October to 30 November 2013 and is open to all Jersey employers. Employers who subsequently retain candiates for 6 months or more on permanent or longer term fixed term contracts may also claim further incentive payments. The key aims of the incentive are to: Encourage and financially support employers to recruit staff who are longer term unemployed. Bring those furthest from the job market closer to securing long-term sustainable unsubsidised employment. Enhance the employability and in-work skills of registered jobseekers who have been out of work for at least 9 months. The JobsFest Employer Incentive supports roles between 20-35 hours per week and provides funding at minimum wage (£6.53 per hour) plus employer Social Security contributions (6.5%). The weekly value of the incentive will therefore range between £139.09 (20 hours) to £243.41 (35 hours) depending on the number of hours worked. Employers are able to pay a higher hourly rate and also offer employment for more hours per week.
Resource Implications: An initial budget of £200,000 has been allocated, approximately enough for the recruitment of 100 individuals into posts for 35 hours work per week during the period 7 October to 30 November 2013. In addition, administrative and support staff will be required so that the scheme operates in an effective and efficient manner. Funding will be provided from the existing budget held by the Social Security Department for the Back to Work Programme.
Action required: Operations Director to implement the JobsFest Employer Incentive.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):