Approximately 900 lower-income workers in Jersey will receive a £250 lump sum payment as a temporary measure until a living wage is implemented.
The Registered Employee Support Payment Scheme (RESPS) targets those who have lived in Jersey for less than five years and aims to support both employers and employees during the transition to a living wage of £13 per hour by 1 April 2025.
Eligible individuals have been contacted by the government and must apply for the one-time payment by 22 November. Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, Minister for Social Security, emphasized that the transition to a living wage is a crucial priority for the government, especially for those affected by the rising cost of living.
To qualify for the scheme, applicants must be Jersey residents, over 18, have a bank account in their name, and hold registered status under the Control of Housing and Work Law. Additionally, they must not live in households eligible for income support and must have declared earnings in July, August, and September 2024.
The government has acknowledged that it will not meet its original target of implementing the living wage by the end of 2024.