ISLANDERS have until Friday to have their say on how much Jersey’s minimum wage should increase from April 2027.
The Jersey Employment Forum is seeking views from workers, employers and the wider public.
Their consultation, which closes on 31 July, will help inform recommendations to the Minister for Social Security on the future minimum wage, trainee rates and the allowances employers can make for accommodation and meals.
The current minimum wage rose to £13.59 an hour from 1 April 2026, up from £13, while the voluntary Jersey Living Wage – promoted by Caritas Jersey – will increased to £15.10 an hour in January.
The gap between the two rates has previously been the subject of political debate, with Caritas arguing that many low-paid workers continue to struggle despite being in employment.
When announcing the new Living Wage rate last year, Caritas Jersey chief executive Patrick Lynch said the £15.10 figure represented “the minimum that islanders need in order to thrive, and not just survive here in Jersey”.
He added that the difference between the statutory minimum wage and the voluntary Living Wage remained “worryingly high”, citing rising poverty levels and increasing demand for foodbanks.
Released on Friday, the latest inflation figures showed that prices in Jersey rose by 2.8% over the 12 months to June 2026 – a slight increase compared with the previous quarter (2.7%), with fuel costs the highest contributor.
Heating oil and other fuels increased by 53.5% over the year, while petrol and oil increased by 18% amid ongoing blockages to the Strait of Hormuz.
The Employment Forum said responses to the wage consultation would help it decide what rates to recommend for introduction from April 2027.
Although the online survey has now closed, Islanders can still submit comments by email to the Secretary of the Employment Forum, Nic Turner, at E.Forum@gov.je until Friday 31 July.
