Latest news with #StatesAssembly
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey employee rights increased with law changes
Increased compensation for those whose employment rights have been breached are set to come into effect on government said its new employment laws would strengthen employee protections and were approved by the States Assembly in main changes include doubling the maximum award for breach of an employee's statutory rights from four to eight weeks' pay and an increased compensation period for unfair dismissal from five to 15 years or maximum award for financial loss and hurt or distress in discrimination cases will also increase from £10,000 to £30,000, and a new requirement for employers to provide written reasons for dismissal will also be introduced. The Minister for Social Security Deputy Lyndsay Feltham said the changes were made to ensure employers "comply with the law".She said: "These changes are an important step in providing more appropriate levels of compensation for employees who have their employment rights breached. "The vast majority of employers are good employers and have nothing to fear from these changes, but it's important we send a clear message that the worst forms of poor treatment of employees will now carry an increased financial risk."
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Jersey deputy due in court over immigration alleged offences
Jersey politician Deputy Philip Ozouf is due to appear at the Magistrate's Court on Friday, he has told the States said it was in connection with alleged offences under the island's Immigration Act, linked to the employment of Rwandan Ozouf said he would not make any further comment as the case was has served in the States since 1999 and held a number of senior positions, including serving as assistant chief minister and minister for treasury and resources.
ITV News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Guernsey's Chief Minister consolidates power as top committee are elected unopposed
Following her historic election as Guernsey's first female Chief Minister, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez has received another strong mandate from the States Assembly, as all four of her preferred candidates were elected onto the island's most powerful political committee. In a States' meeting that lasted just under an hour, de Sausmarez took her seat on the top bench and no speeches were needed as members did not challenge her nominations for Policy and Resources (P&R). It means Deputies Gavin St Pier, Charles Parkinson, Steve Falla, and Jonathan Le Tocq will join the top table. St Pier is a previous president of P&R and topped the poll in the 2020 General Election, he also backed de Sausmarez in Tuesday's vote for Chief Minister. Parkinson withdrew from that battle for the top job and says it seems to be a more cohesive start to the States after the last political term, which saw deputies often divided. He explains: "I think the States have indicated they want to move forward in a consensus style, given we were all elected unopposed. "I have a lot of experience to bring to P&R, so I will seek to help everywhere I can. "People think of me as a fiscal policy specialist, but actually my interests are very wide." Le Tocq is expected to continue in his role as Lead Member for External Relations - a job he has held for the past five years. Meanwhile, Falla, who was the fourth most popular candidate in last month's election, is in his second term as a deputy. All of de Sausmarez's nominations were seconded by Deputy Mark Helyar, who she defeated in the P&R presidency vote on Tuesday. Guernsey's Policy and Resources Committee: Lindsay de Sausmarez (President) Gavin St Pier Charles Parkinson Jonathan Le Tocq Steve Falla Their briefs, including who will serve as de Sausmarez's Vice President, have not yet been announced. Deputy Neil Inder lodged an amendment to allow politicians to question each of the candidates as part of a hustings. However, the motion failed, only receiving the backing of 11 deputies. Speaking after the States Meeting ended, Inder said: "We've effectively had a coronation today. We've had one member proposing all four. There were no speeches and no questions or answers. "At the moment, we are in a sort of love-in period where everything's fantastic. "We will get into far more scrutiny once people actually understand that their job is to scrutinise." If Tuesday was de Sausmarez's coronation, Wednesday saw the start of her consolidation of power. All of her nominations are, in some ways, political allies. They are fairly progressive and big political figures on the island who have lots of experience. They're also popular - each of them finished within the top ten of last month's election voting results. Right now, the respect for de Sausmarez, as well as the authority she carries, seems to know few bounds. However, there are contrasting views on some of the big policy areas within the new senior committee, especially fiscal policy which is the group's main mandate. For example, Parkinson will no doubt want to use his position to push ahead with a review into corporation tax policy, whereas Le Tocq was an architect of the GST+ package. So, it's not just in the Assembly where De Sausmarez's 'unity' status will be tested, but in the island's top political committee which she now leads. The P&R members can also no longer put themselves forward for other committee positions, so all eyes will be on the committee presidency elections, which will take place on Friday (4 July). There will be 13 to decide, including the newly formed Housing Committee, with many expected to be fiercely contested. The remaining members of each of these committees will then be decided on Monday 7 July.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Next Guernsey States likely to revisit plans for GST-plus
The majority of Guernsey's new government would not support proposals for a tax package including a goods and services tax (GST-Plus) should they stick to their manifesto of the deputies elected last week campaigned on a ticket to oppose GST-plus – which is due to be introduced in 2027, or said they wanted to explore other revenue raising means the taxation plans, which would raise £50m annually, may be at risk when Guernsey's States Assembly comes as Guernsey States accounts for 2024 are set to be published later on Monday, revealing a deficit in public finances. The outgoing President of Policies and Resources Committee (P&R) Lyndon Trott previously announced the States spent £44m more than it brought in last this context, candidates' views on taxation and the economy were of critical importance to many voters deciding where to cast their votes for last week's general deputies stick to their promises, the next mandate for government could see GST-Plus – which was agreed in November - scrapped GST-Plus package of tax reforms includes a 5% GST, lower income tax rates for earnings under £30,000 and social security reform, to start in candidates said in their manifestos they wanted a "fairer tax system" for the island, but lacked detail as to how they would approach tackling the financial deficit. Half of Guernsey's next assembly - 19 in total - said they were firmly against GST or GST-Plus. Some of them indicated they had opposed the policy in the past and were hopeful it would be reconsidered.A further eight said they wanted to explore other options before ratifying the last States' decision to introduce the new tax, but would consider GST-Plus as a last prominent GST-supporting politicians were voted of the 38 elected candidates, only 11 pledged to back GST-Plus in upcoming votes the new States is expected to hold early ways to tackle expenditure included closing corporate tax loopholes, improving tax administration, reforming the zero-10 corporation tax model and slashing public spending. Former States economist and incoming deputy, Dr Andy Sloan said the new government had a mandate to "turn over every stone" before introducing said he would like to see a three-pronged approach to "introduce a consumption tax, reform corporate tax and restraining expenditure" to balance the public accounts, but stressed that the introduction of a GST should be the last said: "The message from the electorate was they wanted no stone left unturned before GST being introduced and they don't believe that's been done yet."The States has to follow the will of the electorate and listen to that message and focus on restraining expenditure."He said when he first came to Guernsey over a decade ago spending was about £296m and it has now "ballooned" to £700m."I think the public really want to see expenditure restraint first. The majority of those who topped the poll were elected on that message," he said."We can't keep spending at twice the rate that we have income coming in, which we have been doing for 10 years." Returning Deputy Gavin St Pier, the leader of Forward Guernsey, is among those not supportive of GST-Plus "in its current form".He said: "We don't oppose a consumption tax but before it hits the streets it does need reform to make it fairer. It's really important to get the community behind this kind of tax change."It is so fundamental - it will affect everyone on the island for generations to come."At the first States meeting where business will be discussed - on 15 July - members will debate the accounts for public finances set to become a major theme next term, all eyes will be on what the States does next.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Plan to help Jersey's ageing population proposed
Calls have been made to improve planning policies to help Jersey's ageing Inna Gardiner has lodged a proposition to create an "age-friendly infrastructure framework" to adapt planning standards to help elderly said the framework would have age-inclusive planning guidance, improve public transport accessibility and promote "10-minute neighbourhoods" to keep GPs, pharmacies, shops and parks within walking said the island faced a "profound demographic shift" with Statistics Jersey suggesting the older population was expected to increase rapidly over the next 20-30 years. 'Rare opportunity' The proposition also calls for a commitment to developing anti-slip pavements, doorways without steps and more public toilets and sheltered said she felt the island's infrastructure and planning policies needed to adapt."This [framework] gives Jersey a rare opportunity to plan ahead to adapt our public spaces, transport networks, and services before they become inadequate," she added."Failure to do so will increase long-term dependency, health and care costs, and social isolation among older islanders."The earliest date for debate of the proposition at the States Assembly is 8 July.
