Seeking Families to Join Scrutiny Pane

Call for Families and Employers to Share Views on Parental Leave Policies

Families and employers in Jersey are being invited to share their experiences of family-friendly employment laws as part of a review by a States of Jersey scrutiny sub-panel.

The panel will assess the impact of changes made to Jersey’s employment law in 2018 and 2020, which extended paid parental leave and introduced the right for mothers to request breastfeeding breaks at work.

A survey conducted last year by the Minister for Social Security highlighted a need for greater awareness of these changes and a review of parental allowance rules. The sub-panel will now examine the progress made in addressing these concerns and assess the effectiveness of the 2024 survey.

Ensuring the Best Start for Children

Deputy Louise Doublet, who chairs the sub-panel, described the employment law amendments as "a progressive and positive step forward" but acknowledged that the survey results indicated a lack of awareness among parents and employers.

"As a panel, we want to ensure that current legislation and policies are robust enough to give children the best start in life and that the minister has taken action to address the concerns raised," she said.

The panel is also keen to hear from organisations that support families and businesses in implementing these policies. A public hearing will be held to question the Minister for Social Security about the review process.