Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Paid Educational Leave Convention, 1974 (No. 140) - Jersey

Policy to promote the granting of paid educational leave. The Committee notes the report received in September 2013 in which the State of Jersey indicates that Skills Jersey was formed in 2008 to ensure that training and further education programmes meet the needs of both employers and individuals in all sectors of industry. It is comprised of the Skills Executive, made up of the Ministers for Economic Development, Education, Sport and Culture, and Social Security; and the Skills Jersey Board. The Committee takes note that while Jersey Enterprise continued with its monitoring role in respect of the Convention until February 2012, it was integrated with the Jersey Business Venture to become Jersey Business Limited (JBL) in November 2011. JBL is an independent, grant-funded organization whose principle role is to support the creation and development of small-to-large local businesses and contribute to the policies that drive the island’s economy. JBL did not take on the earlier responsibility for Article 2, which is currently delivered on the island’s behalf by Skills Jersey. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing further information on the activities of Skills Jersey on matters covered by the Convention.

Financing arrangements for paid educational leave. The Government indicates that, due to the high level of unemployment, the Social Security Department is currently implementing various training and development programmes to assist unemployed islanders back into the workforce. It further highlights that a new enhanced apprenticeship scheme – Trackers – was launched in September 2012 and has four elements: technical qualification; vocational competencies in the workplace; key skills; and employer/employee responsibilities, including health and safety. The initial take up has exceeded expectations and the changes undertaken appear to have been well received by employers and employees alike. Moreover, the Government makes reference to a number of programmes implemented by the Economic Department Fund, including the Jersey Undergraduate Internship Programme, the Jersey version of the Global Entrepreneurship Week engaging with all secondary schools and colleges, and three new programmes aimed at the higher level skills. The Committee notes that these three new programmes include a new Higher Level Fellowship Scheme aimed at leadership and management where employees are able to claim up to £5,000 on a 75:25 split and a graduate training scheme that will be launched in 2014 along with an inward investment pot for new businesses coming to the island looking to train staff. The Committee invites the Government to provide further information on the impact that these financial arrangements have had on the propensity to grant paid educational leave.

Leave for the purposes of general and trade union education. The Government indicates, in response to the Committee’s previous direct request, that the Model Recognition Agreement, which includes a provision dealing with the training of worker representatives, has been utilized by private sector companies on a number of occasions and that it is accepted as a sound basis for formalizing the relationship between unions and private sector employers that have received requests to recognize unions. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing practical information and examples on how paid educational leave is granted for the purpose of general and trade union education.