The Jersey Chamber of Commerce has agreed with the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel and asked Social Security Minister Judy Martin to withdraw her proposals pending further consultation.
However, campaign group Women in Politics, which works to encourage more women to engage with politics, has called for the minister to stand by her proposals and receive ‘passionate’ support from the rest of the Assembly.
The minister is currently considering the panel’s report and plans to make a decision next week.
Under Deputy Martin’s proposals, various improvements would be made to parental rights in the workplace, including breastfeeding rights and those for surrogate and adoptive parents.
And from September all new parents would be entitled to up to a year off work taken in up to four blocks over three years. The first six weeks of leave would be paid by employers.
In response to concerns from businesses, the minister has lodged an amendment to her own proposition reducing the blocks to three over two years and extending the amount of notice employees would need to give.
But in a report published this week, the panel said that is not good enough. It argued that the minister’s proposals were based on inadequate research and risked placing too much burden on businesses and creating a two-tier system where only those who could afford
to take unpaid time off work would benefit.
It said that it supported the principles behind the proposition, but more research and consultation is needed. If the minister does not withdraw the section relating to extended parental leave, the panel has lodged its own amendment which asks Members to shelve it anyway.
The Chamber of Commerce has now backed the panel’s call.
Chamber president Jennifer Carnegie said: ‘We have consistently asked for a delay in introducing parts of this amendment until the likely effects of such changes have been properly considered and understood. Chamber is in favour of improving family-friendly legislation and supporting all families and children. Delaying this proposition to allow thorough, up-front consultation with businesses, who will carry the burden of the costs, is the right thing to do.
‘Jersey Chamber of Commerce remains committed to assisting government to improve family-friendly legislation whilst representing our members through better understanding of the pressures placed on businesses to manage the changes.’
Meanwhile, in a letter to States Members ahead of the debate later this month, Women in Politics calls on politicians to back the minister’s proposals and work with the likes of the Chamber of Commerce to help businesses find solutions rather than dump the legislation into the ‘too difficult category’.
‘This is our Assembly’s opportunity to show the world that it can lead in the battle against workplace inequality, that it is willing to invest in its valued working parents and support businesses in attracting and retaining the best talent,’ the letter says.
‘To ignore or block family-friendly rights – particularly those that encourage gender balance in childcare roles – is short-sighted and harmful to the business community’s ability to grow and remain competitive in the long term.
‘There is plenty of evidence to support the economic advantages in this regard (we refer you to McKinsey’s well-respected annual reports on gender equality in the workplace, for example).
‘Perhaps most worryingly of all, ignoring the opportunity to provide parents with quality time with their new-born baby disregards the proven benefits to our children’s wellbeing.’
