blog.gov.jeBy Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, Minister for Social Security
As Minister for Social Security, I want to take a moment to clear up some confusion surrounding the entitlement to the minimum wage. I know there’s been a lot of discussion, and it’s important to make sure everyone has the correct information.
What is the minimum wage?
A minimum hourly wage rate is set by law. From 1 April this has increased to £13 an hour. The next increase will be in April 2026.
Why the increase matters
The increase to the minimum wage is a crucial step towards ensuring that workers in Jersey receive fair pay. This aligns with our commitment to supporting individuals and families in meeting the cost of living. Raising the minimum wage helps to build a fairer society and is an important step as we move towards a living wage.
Clearing up misunderstandings
There have been a few misconceptions about the changes, which I would like to clarify:
- Minimum wage for young workers: Some reports have claimed that a 14-year-old would need to be paid £13 per hour from 1 April. This is incorrect. The minimum wage requirements only apply to those who are over the school leaving age i.e. when they have completed year 11. Employers are perfectly entitled to set their own rates for employees under school leaving age.
- Bank Holiday pay: There have been claims that employment legislation requires an employer to pay double time on bank holidays. This is inaccurate. The law requires that bank holidays are treated as a day of paid leave, but this can be taken at any time (such as through a day off in lieu) by agreement between the employer and employee.
- Supporting apprentices: Concerns have been raised that the higher minimum wage could limit opportunities for apprentices. Ministers are committed to supporting apprentices and we have made a grant available to any employer taking on an apprentice. The grant is worth £2,000 per year per apprentice. This forms part of a £20 million investment aimed at supporting local employers in transitioning towards a living wage over the next two years.
Moving forward
By raising the minimum wage, we are taking an important step in making work pay fairly for everyone while also providing practical support to employers through targeted grants. Our aim is to create a balanced and fair approach that supports both workers and businesses alike.