From Mike Truscott.
IT was reported last week that Francis Le Gresley of Citizens Advice felt that we should not set a precedent in so far as the States of Jersey financially supporting/compensating the former Woolworths employees, citing that it would be unfair to others who have previously found themselves in a similar position.

I am not quite sure how many, if any, have similarly been affected, certainly none that I can recall that were as widely reported, but if there were then they too should receive support from the States.
These are extraordinary times and as such demand extraordinary decisions where precedents should be set. The necessary legislation should then be put in place to make sure employees in the Island have at least the same standard of protection as those in the UK.

It would be interesting to learn if Woolies, and now in their place, the administrators, have benefited from the reduction in income tax as we move to zero-ten which will have resulted in them earning higher profits from the Island’s operations.

I suggest instead of instructing our law officers to review outdated laws, something which was reported recently, they should give urgent attention to introducing proper employment and redundancy laws.
I am not sure how unique the circumstances are surrounding the employees of Woolies but it seems to me that it could happen to others if we do not give this matter top priority.

Perhaps we could start by getting assurances from all the major employers as to what policy they follow in this regard and needless to say ensure that any new company applying for a licence to operate in the Island has an adequate redundancy policy.

Although it was sad to read about other people being laid off by one of the major building suppliers it was reported that they would follow UK redundancy policies.

Finally I asked one of Woolies’ employees, when signing their petition, why they had not simply kept the money from the sales of the last week in lieu of redundancy pay. I guess I did not need an answer as these are honest and loyal employees who have not only been let down by their employer and then the administrators, but more importantly by our politicians and the States of Jersey.
El Granero,
Rue de la Mare,
St Ouen.