WORKERS on zero-hours contracts may gain better employment rights before the end of the year.
Social Security Minister Elaine Millar said she was seeking to amend the Employment Law to enable workers to request a contract that better reflected the reality of their working life.
She made the announcement this week in response to a report from the Jersey Employment Forum, published in May, which found that some employees on a zero-hours contract were working hours akin to regular part-time or full-time work.
Deputy Millar has also agreed to carry out a consultation on the rates of compensation – which have been in place ‘for many years’ – available for employees if their rights are found to have been breached.
The minister has now agreed that there is a suitable case for additional legislation and she will ask for law drafting to be undertaken. It is hoped that the legislative change will be approved during this year.
Deputy Millar said she was ‘grateful’ to the forum for its report and she has accepted each of its recommendations.
She added: ‘Jersey’s employment legislation must achieve the right balance between employer and employee. As the forum reports, work needs to be done to improve understanding among employees and employers about their rights and responsibilities. I make it clear in my response to the forum’s report that there are many ways we can achieve this and we’ll be working within government and with other partners to make sure we make positive progress during 2023.’
Commenting on the level of compensation available to workers if their rights have been breached, she said: ‘The current award levels have been in place for many years and I’ve asked the forum to consider whether they’re still adequate.
‘I look forward to receiving its recommendations in due course.’
On other matters – such as the definition of zero-hours contracts and right to compensation for shift cancellation or curtailment without reasonable notice – she agreed with the recommendations and that no action needed to be taken because there was ‘little evidence of a problem in Jersey that would require additional legislation to rectify it’.
She further endorsed that education and awareness-raising of employment rights for employers and employees was a crucial factor when it came to the rights and responsibilities of both parties to an employment contract and to facilitating good employment relations.
