Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Jersey

The Committee notes the additional information provided by the Government in light of the Governing Body’s decision at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee therefore examined the application of the Convention on the basis of the additional information provided as well as on the information available to it in 2019.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments. It notes with interest the adoption of the Statistics and Census (Jersey) Law, which came into force on 23 February 2018. In its supplementary report, the Government notes that the Jersey Annual Social Survey (JASS) has been undertaken every summer since 2005, except for 2011, when the Jersey Census was held in the same year. The Committee notes that the States of Jersey Statistics Unit continues to compile and disseminate information on the labour force, employment and unemployment, derived from various sources, including the JASS, which is used to provide periodic estimates of ILO unemployment. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the census conducted on 27 March 2011 is still the most recent census conducted. The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply updated data and information on the methodology used in the application of Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention, as well as on plans for conducting the next round of the population census. It also reiterates its request that the Government provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013), as well as on any developments in relation to the resolution concerning statistics on work relationships (resolution I), adopted by the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2018).

Articles 9, 10, 11 and 12. Current statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Committee notes the information communicated by the Government with respect to statistics on average earnings, hours worked (from the 2011 Jersey census), labour costs (from the annual survey of financial institutions) and the retail price index. With respect to Article 9(1), the Government indicates that the Average Earnings Index (AEI) continues to be compiled annually. Information from the AEI is available online and includes information on the level of average weekly earnings and changes in average earnings overall, disaggregated by individual business sector. The Government indicates that the coverage of the average earnings survey extends to about half of all workers in Jersey. The Committee notes that the most recent report of the AEI was published in 2017. With respect to the application of Article 9(2), the Committee notes the Government’s indication that statistics of hours of work were compiled from the 2011 census and the results made available online. The Committee recalls the Government’s indication in its previous report that statistics of time rates of wages were not compiled, but that an independent consultative body, the Employment Forum, had been established by law in 2003, and is charged with reviewing the rates of minimum wages on the island, particularly in low-paid industries. With respect to Article 11, the Government indicates that the finance industry accounts for more than two fifths of Jersey’s total gross value added, and that an annual survey of financial institutions continues to be undertaken by Statistics Jersey each spring. The survey includes information on labour costs for the finance industry sector, as well as for subsectors such as banking, trusts and company administration, fund management, accounting and legal services. With respect to Article 12, a Retail Price Index continues to be published on a quarterly basis by the States of Jersey Statistics Unit, and is made available online. The Committee requests the Government to communicate statistics to the ILO as soon as they become available and, following enactment of the recent Statistics and Census (Jersey) Law, to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to improve and enhance the collection, compilation and publication of the statistics required under these Articles of the Convention.