The Employment & Social Security Committee had gone out to consultation on a proposal to increase the minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds from the current £11.35 an hour to £13.10 from October. That would have brought it in line with the adult rate.
At the time, ESS president Tina Bury portrayed the matter as one of principle saying, ‘my committee does not support the premise that it is acceptable to pay those aged 16 or 17 less than adults for doing the same or equivalent work’.
However, following the statutory consultation period, ESS has changed its mind and is proposing to keep the young person’s rate at 90% of the adult rate. ESS said, as a committee, they still believe in the principle of equality but felt that they had to listen to warnings from other parties.
‘The consultation responses demonstrate a clear divergence of views on this proposal. The strongest opposition came from Economic Development and employer representative organisations, which expressed concern that removing the differential could reduce employment opportunities for younger
workers.
‘In particular, these respondents highlighted the important role that the differential may play in encouraging employers to recruit, train and provide work experience opportunities to young people entering the workforce.’
While the committee is proposing keeping the lower young person’s rate for now, they say in the longer term they may follow Jersey where lower rates apply for workers of any age who are undertaking an approved training programme as part of their employment.
If the committee’s revised proposals are accepted, the adult rate will still go up to £13.10 but the young person’s rate will only rise to £11.80.
In both cases that will represent a 4% increase.
If passed by the States, the new adult rate will be higher than those in either the UK or the Isle of Man but lower than the minimum wage in Jersey.
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