The Jersey Hospitality Association is urging whoever is the next Chief Minister to wait until we know more about the implications of Brexit – specifically the rules governing who will be able to work in the island – before committing to a Migration Policy.
A policy was lodged with the States last December, which proposed introducing work permits – including permits for a period of up to ten months, if ‘seasonal and temporary’ and up to four years if employment is year-round. The Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, initially wanted it debated in March but then decided to leave it for the next Assembly, which begins in June.
While recognising the importance of managing the island’s population, the JHA thinks it is only logical to know the rights of European citizens in Jersey – and, indeed, the rights of British citizens in Europe – before setting any local policy in stone.
JHA President Fiona Kerley said: “Jersey and its residents benefit in so many ways from a successful hospitality sector which requires a professional, committed and available workforce in order to thrive and meet the expectations of its clientele. Brexit uncertainty is already being felt by hospitality businesses in terms of recruitment difficulties, so the JHA are convinced that the Brexit arrangements must be fully settled and understood before any new migration policy is proposed in Jersey.
“We hope that whoever is the next Chief Minister will follow this common-sense approach”.
