A STATES Member who came to Jersey as a seasonal employee in the 1980s has described her satisfaction at bringing a successful States’ proposition designed to improve the rights of migrant workers.
Deputy Beatriz Porée achieved unanimous support for her move requiring the government to review the feasibility of issuing work permits in the employee’s name instead of their employer.
And although the second element of her two-part proposition was narrowly rejected as the result of a tied vote, Deputy Porée said she was pleased to have been able to shine a light on the conditions faced by some of those who travel to the Island to work.
“It was worth the fight,” she told the JEP. “I felt it was necessary to explain the realities, as I think many people in Jersey haven’t been aware of the situation faced by many migrant workers, how precarious it can be.
“Many people think that those who come here for work serve a purpose and are paid good money compared to how much they might earn at home, but some of the conditions are horrendous and that’s why this was needed.”
Deputy Porée, who came to the Island from Portugal in 1989 to take a seasonal role in catering at Elizabeth Castle, said she had been aware of the challenges facing migrant workers ever since making the move, and had been fighting to bring the issue to the Assembly since being elected in 2022 as the first black States Member.
The issue has come into the spotlight in recent months as a result of two high-profile cases: the inquest into the death of Filipino farm worker George Castrudes during a fire in his poorly-heated accommodation at a nursery in Grouville, and the court case against a serving politician, with Deputy Philip Ozouf sentenced to community service for breaches of immigration law relating to the employment of Rwandan nationals.
“These cases have lifted the lid on this situation,” she said. “I was already planning to raise the issue of modern-day slavery, but in the end this was picked up by ministers.”
Deputy Porée was tearful at times during the debate as she described the treatment at some migrant workers – she said she had curtailed one account, relating to a migrant worker who was beaten up on his return home due to being unable to pay back money he had borrowed, because she needed to focus on completing her speech.
“I do get emotional about it – I think because I’m from a minority background, people come to me for help when they have problems, and I do my best to help them,” she said.
The second part of the proposition, which would have paved the way for Jersey to adopt the internationally recognised “employer pays” principle for the hiring of staff from overseas, was narrowly lost, but Deputy Porée said she would be looking to keep the pressure on the government in the future.
Although she has yet to officially confirm her candidacy, the Angolan-born politician said she hopes to be re-elected to represent St Helier South.
“This is something I want to carry on with – if I am elected again, then I will be looking to see what come out of the review [due in June 2027] and then asking questions to keep the pressure on,” she said. “This issue is very close to me.
“It’s taken a lot of sweat and tears to get to this position and it has been difficult for me, because some people didn’t welcome the proposition – they portrayed it as anti-Jersey and anti-business, when in reality it was about treating people with basic respect.”
