In October the States Assembly approved the new rights, which allow both parents up to a year off work following the birth of a child, six weeks of which would be paid for by employers. The law also introduces workplace rights to breastfeed and requires employers to take reasonable steps to provide breastfeeding facilities.
The changes are due to come into force on 28 June, but concerns have been raised by Scrutiny that employers will not be ready in time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
That is despite the minister having pledged to support businesses with a temporary subsidy scheme to help with some of their costs.
Despite being sympathetic to the calls from the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, Social Security Minister Judy Martin said she would not delay the proposition as many businesses had had time to prepare and any delay would mean she would have to re-submit her proposition.
She also said that she had been contacted by worried parents-to-be concerned they could be affected by a delay.
She said: ‘It really isn’t possible to delay it until September. I understand what is being said in the letter, but businesses have had a long time to sort things out.
‘It was voted through by the Assembly back in October and it can’t be left any longer to be enacted.
‘It will come in on 22 June and if I was to leave it any longer and delay it until September, it would mean me withdrawing it and bringing it back to the Assembly having to relodge it.
‘I’ve had concerned mothers-to-be getting in touch with me about it and I am not willing to delay it until September.’
In his letter last week asking for the delay, Scrutiny panel chairman Deputy Kirsten Morel said: ‘The panel acknowledges that the extensions to employment rights will improve the position for parents in the workplace.
‘However, given the current situation with Covid-19, where employers have been severely affected, we would recommend delaying the implementation of the changes until September.
‘We acknowledge that a careful balance needs to be struck between fostering a family-friendly culture in Jersey and supporting our business community.
‘In that regard the panel believes that introducing these changes in the present climate will put additional and unnecessary pressure on businesses in the short term, even with your plans for an interim subsidy scheme.’
