IoD Jersey is supporting the recent States Proposition which calls for an independent system for the setting of States Members’ remuneration.
The proposition also allows for the level of pay to be both sufficient to ensure a reasonable standard of living, and reflect the workloads and responsibilities of each role. The new proposition also recommends that members’ pay be linked to an index.
IoD Jersey has launched its Jersey Election 2022 campaign, seeking to encourage a diverse and experienced range of high calibre clients to stand for election. The organisation believes that one way to achieve this is to ensure that the level of pay is sufficient and reflects responsibility.
This is a view backed by Islanders, as detailed in the Island Global Research survey back in 2016, in which two thirds of respondent households indicated that States Members’ pay should vary depending on the level of responsibility. In addition, 67% of respondents agreed, or strongly agreed that pay for States members should be set so that no-one is put off from standing for election to the States Assembly because they can’t afford to take on the role.
States members are currently all paid the same, including Ministers who are running departments with budgets of tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money. The IoD believes Jersey needs experienced and diverse people in those roles.
Lisa Springate, Chair of the IoD Jersey, said: “It is critical that we attract the right calibre of candidates, and while many people would like to lead their Island, it can be difficult for some to take on the role based on the level of remuneration. I have spoken to some who would like to stand in 2022, but could not afford to do so.
“While some argue that the current States member’s pay is sufficient, we will always struggle to attract higher calibre and diverse candidates, unless that remuneration goes some way towards private sector parity and reflects the difference in responsibility between members.
“We urge States members to end this long-running debate and pass this resolution in the interests of all Islanders and the post-Covid recovery of our economy.”
The earliest the proposition can be debated is June 8th 2021.
