Jersey employee rights increase with law change

The government said its new employment laws would strengthen employee protections

Increased compensation for those whose employment rights have been breached are set to come into effect on Friday.

The government said its new employment laws would strengthen employee protections and were approved by the States Assembly in April.

The main changes include doubling the maximum award for breach of an employee's statutory rights from four to eight weeks' pay and an increased compensation period for unfair dismissal from five to 15 years or more.

The maximum award for financial loss and hurt or distress in discrimination cases will also increase from £10,000 to £30,000, and a new requirement for employers to provide written reasons for dismissal will also be introduced.

The Minister for Social Security Deputy Lyndsay Feltham said the changes were made to ensure employers "comply with the law".

She said: "These changes are an important step in providing more appropriate levels of compensation for employees who have their employment rights breached.

"The vast majority of employers are good employers and have nothing to fear from these changes, but it's important we send a clear message that the worst forms of poor treatment of employees will now carry an increased financial risk."