The Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel undertook two reviews on the proposals to extend family friendly employment rights. The first review focused on the consultation process and the possible impacts the changes had on businesses and the Island's economy.
The proposals were orginally contained in a proposition (P.17/2019) lodged by the Social Security Minister on 12th February, but this was later withdrawn due to a legislative issue around equalising parental leave.
The proposals were informed by a review of family friendly legislation by the Employment Forum, and include an extension from 26 weeks to 52 weeks of leave for all new parents.
The Employment Forum acts as a non-political consultative body which consults on employment-related issues as directed by the Social Security Minister. The Forum reports to the Minister with recommendations on each issue, based on the views received in consultation.
The Forum consulted on family friendly rights, using its consultation database of around 300, from January to March 2017. At the end of 2017, the Forum presented a recommendation to the Minister which outlined the extensions to the family friendly legislation.
The Minister lodged the revised proposals (P.100/2019) in September 2019 which are largely similar to those put forward in the orginal proposition. The Panel's second review followed up on its work undertaken during its original review. The Panel presented a short follow up report (as well as an amendment) in October 2019.
First review:
To review the Draft Employment (Amendment No.11) (Jersey) Law 201- with a particular focus on (but not limited to):
- the consultation process used to feed into the proposals
- the impact the new proposals will have, if any, on businesses and the island's economy.
Second review:
To follow up on the previous report in respect of the revised proposition to extend family friendly employment rights.
