ALL Island employers will have to pay their workers a minimum wage of £5.08 an hour, if the States agree – but not until April 2005.

The proposals will apply to workers in every sector, including agriculture and tourism.

Where accommodation and food are provided, the hourly rate will be offset by £74.20 per week, or £55.65 for accommodation alone.

There will also be a lower rate of £3.82 for trainees, and a youth rate is being considered, in the light of recent problems finding jobs for school leavers.

The recommendations – which amount to £208.28 for a 41-hour week, or £10,830 annually – have been put forward by the Employment Forum, a consultation group set up by the Employment and Social Security Committee which includes three employers, three employees and three independent members.

Their report, released today, follows the States’ approval of Jersey’s first Employment Law in July last year, which includes the requirement for a minimum wage as well as basic rights and protection against unfair dismissal.But the main law and subordinate legislation will not be in place until 2005 at the earliest, the president of the Employment and Social Security Committee, Senator Paul Routier, said today.