Opposers of Blin/De Lisle amendment in rally call

Residents are being urged to rally against the proposed change, put forward by deputies Chris Blin and David De Lisle, which would exclude more than half of businesses in Guernsey from being required to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace for 13,500 disabled islanders and 16,000 carers.

GDA founder Rob Platts said the amendment would be disastrous if it was passed.

‘It would fail to remove, and may even increase, the barriers to equality of opportunity facing islanders with disabilities, and for those who care for them. In effect, the amendment would sanction discrimination by a substantial proportion of employers,’ he said.

Some 11 amendments have been proposed by States members, only two of which are being supported by the GDA and Employment & Social Security.

However, when the propositions were made in the States in 2020, deputies voted for them unanimously or overwhelmingly, with many thinking the agenda could be taken even further.

The Blin/De Lisle amendment would mean businesses with five or less employees would not have to comply with the discrimination legislation when it came to carers and making reasonable adjustments for disabled people.

Deputy De Lisle said that without an impact assessment, there is no way of knowing the significance of discrimination in Guernsey.

‘We want to know if it is a problem here, and I don’t think it is,’ he said.

‘Where are the facts? Where is the requirement for legislation at this extent?

‘It is working fundamentally against the people it is intended to protect.

‘It has now extended over sexuality, race, pregnancy – it goes on and on.

‘How on earth is a small company going to deal with this?’

He said there is no need for the proposed law to have such broad cover, with no idea of the cost or impact it will have on local companies.

‘It is for another day. Guernsey is the equivalent of a very small town in the UK, and here we are wanting complex discrimination legislation.’

A gathering taking place on the Royal Court steps tomorrow morning, which was originally intended to be a celebration of the ordinance being passed, will now be a plea to deputies to oppose the amendment.

In an open letter to islanders, GDA partnership director urged people to contact local politicians to voice their concerns.

‘Should it get through, we will see this as a failure of legislation and a failure of politicians to protect carers and disabled people in Guernsey. The GDA is focused on providing reassurance and information on the amendment that will hopefully ensure they are not passed.’

The remaining nine controversial amendments include cutting the maximum compensation payments for anyone discriminated against at work from £10,000 to £5,000.

Liberate has launched a petition to withdraw the amendment, which had received more than 500 signatures yesterday. One person posted their reason for signing as being that ‘We cannot and should not leave anyone behind when it comes to protection against discrimination.’

The deputies will go into the debate 9.30am tomorrow.