Guernsey job losses due to LVCR 'unclear'

The full impact of the end of LVCR on Guernsey's unemployment levels cannot yet be accurately estimated, the chief officer of Social Security has said.

Low Value Consignment Relief, which allowed low value items to be sent to the UK tax free, ended on 1 April.

Its ending has led to some mail order companies announcing redundancies.

Malcolm Nutley said the department had already been contacted by some of those losing their job and he expected more to come forward in the coming months.

He said measures were being put in place to deal with the expected rise.

Unemployment figures for Guernsey at the end of March, which would not include any of those made redundant due to the end of LVCR, were down by 16 on the February figures.

There were 416 people out of work at the end of last month, representing 1.3% of the working population, a rise of 115 compared with the same month in 2011.

In Alderney there were 21 people registered as unemployed.