This week the Social Security Department launched a public consultation ahead of the lodging of propositions aimed at protecting those with a disability.
The proposals are due to be debated by the States next year and if they are approved, it is hoped the new laws would take effect from next September.
The Jersey Chamber of Commerce has now said that it ‘fully endorses’ the need for the Island to have ‘fully comprehensive disability discrimination legislation’ and added that it was ‘encouraging’ that the States had asked the business community for its input on the drafting of the proposed law early in the consultation process.
In a statement, the Chamber of Commerce said: ‘Any progressive economy lacking in a plan to handle the scope of issues such as disability, sex and age discrimination will lack credibility in the eyes of its peers and, indeed, among interested parties looking to invest in the Island.’
One of the key areas which is due to be discussed during the consultation, which closes on 10 November, is whether all businesses should have disabled access to their premises in place by 2020.
Jim Hopley, who acts as a special adviser to the Chamber of Commerce on discrimination legislation and sustainable business, said this area would be one of the biggest challenges for businesses.
‘With older buildings there will be financial and practical challenges, and small and medium-sized businesses are likely to be the organisations that find any change to their building or office space the most challenging,’ he said.
‘That is why early consultation is vital with business owners, so they have appropriate time to discuss potential issues with government.’ Mr Hopley said that businesses must be given ‘adequate time and support’ from the States to understand and prepare for the impact of the proposed legislation.
He added that he believed that the States would negotiate with businesses to make sure they did not bear too much cost in making their premises accessible to the disabled.
‘The difficulty is always the expense of “retro-fitting”. If you look at some of the premises in St Helier, it is hard to convert them to be totally accessible. So it’s going to be about co-operation, negotiation and a bit of common sense,’ he said.
‘That doesn’t mean that organisations should bury their heads in the sand. A few ramps and handrails is not much, and with a bit of lateral thinking we can think of ways around to make things easier.
‘But, for example, I wouldn’t expect a two-man business operating on the fourth floor of a Victorian building in St Helier to have too many demands put on them.’
The proposed legislation is due to be debated by the States next year. Similar anti-discrimination laws were introduced to protect the characteristics of race, sex and age between 2014 and 2016.
