It’s fascinating to note that Jersey, that bastion of the free movement of capital is so ready to argue to restrict access for labour:
ISLANDERS with five years’ residency should get priority for jobs while unemployment remains high, says former Housing Minister Terry Le Main.
There are currently 1,250 Islanders registered as out of work, and Senator Le Main says that while the number remains high, all job vacancies should be checked and limited to applicants with five years’ residency wherever possible.
The former minister undermines all Jersey’s free trade credentials in one go.
And at the same time destroys any chance of bringing in new employees to kick start an alternative economy.
I guess they’ll just have to stick to my Plan B.
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Jersey Senator Terry Le Main is noted for his populism and not for his understanding of the labour market and economics. The New Labour casualised labour market operates in Jersey as in other parts of the UK. Immigrant labour, skilled, young and inexpensive, is pitted against an indigenous working class without such advantages. This suits business. It disadvantages the local working class who seek (and are fed by populist politicians)simplistic explanations and end up blaming immigrant workers – hence the underlying tones of racsim toward the Polish and Portuguese communities in the island.
Senator Le Main makes no postive suggestions about government works schemes or a Job Club, to give support to those seeking work, and instead stokes the fires of social division. Jersey still has no unemployment benefit.
Quite why the Jersey Evening Post newspaper put this story on its front page seems bizarre given the source; but perhaps that is precisely why.