THE living wage will rise to £13.41 an hour in 2024 amid “real concern” about levels of poverty in the Island.
Jersey’s new rate – up from £12.19 this year – represents an increase of just under 10.1%, in line with the latest rate of inflation.
Caritas Jersey, which supports vulnerable Islanders, is licensed by the UK’s Living Wage Foundation to accredit employers, with the living wage aiming to ensure that workers earn enough to be able to live with dignity and thrive, not just survive.
The organisation’s chief executive, Patrick Lynch, said: “We have seen over recent weeks and months, along with our charity partners, food banks and others, the huge increase in need across our Island. As we enter into winter there is real concern about the levels of poverty and those people for whom their wages no longer meet their outgoings, such are the increases they have experienced in rent, utilities and other costs.
“Just this week the ‘Opinions and Lifestyle Survey’ report from Statistics Jersey has laid bare the eye-watering living costs that many face and the ‘red flags’ around the soaring levels of debt that more and more households have found themselves burdened with.”
The survey revealed that almost a quarter of households (23%) reported having borrowed more money or used more credit in comparison with last year.
Mr Lynch added: “The Jersey Living Wage has therefore never been as important as it is now for so many people (especially Islanders without five years’ residency for whom there was very little support in this week’s Government Plan) and the increase to £13.41 per hour, agreed this week by the Living Wage Advisory Committee members, acknowledges the true cost of living in Jersey and aims to help people in these very challenging and unprecedented times. The new rate represents an increase of just under 10.1%, which correlates with the latest inflation figures, so accurately acknowledges the increased cost of living.”
Mr Lynch said Caritas Jersey looked forward to the “imminent publication” of the government’s minimum wage/living wage review, “which they indicated this week we will see before Christmas.
“We hope that this will signal that they will make good on their post-election commitment to raise the minimum wage to parity with the living wage during the lifetime of the current Assembly,’ he added.
