Return to old system for short-term workers
POPULATION controls have ‘devastated’ the hospitality industry, said Peter Roffey yesterday, as States members voted to return to the ‘traditional’ nine months on, three months off licences.
An effort by Economic Development to bring in an annually renewable licence, without the need for a three-month gap, was rejected.
The return to the old system was parachuted into a set of changes to the Population Management Law via an amendment by Deputies Roffey and Emilie Yerby.
Home Affairs and Economic Development wanted to modify the law – under which short-term licences are re-issued for up to a maximum of five years – due to the impact it has had on staff employment and retention.
Deputy Roffey said the law’s ‘devastating impact’ was clear to see and that the island has ‘wilfully squandered’ countless staff who ‘knew their jobs and knew Guernsey’.
They have spread the word that Guernsey is a ‘grudging and unaccommodating’ employer of short-term staff.
This has exacerbated recruitment issues that have been worsened by Brexit and the weaker pound.
Members rejected the proposition to allow for an annually renewable permit 31-7, and the changes to the definition of ordinarily resident by a larger majority.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
