Jersey business owner says minimum wage comments are ‘madness’

Businesses, charities and politicians have reacted to criticism of the minimum wage by the economic development minister, with one coffee shop owner calling his public comments “madness”.

Earlier this week, the chief minister rejected Deputy Gerald Voisin’s suggestion that the minimum wage was “strangling our economy” and said the minister’s views did not reflect that of the government or States Assembly.

Frank De Jesus, who runs Coffee Republic, said the cost of living and of doing business in Jersey were a “far-reaching issue”. He has called on the council of ministers to “get their act together” and discuss workers’ pay.

The BBC has contacted Voisin for comment.

De Jesus said to get good staff he often has to pay above the minimum wage, currently set at £13.59 an hour.

He said the cost of labour was a “polarising issue” with most businesses on the high street “just getting by”.

He said: “On one hand, obviously, retailers and hospitality need to make a profit… but we’re also very aware that our workers need to feel as if they’re valued and that they have a chance to get on in life.”

Responding to the disagreement between ministers, he said Voisin’s public comments had “opened a can of worms”.

He said: “Maybe they [ministers] should get around the table and talk about it, I would think, before going publicly with statements that are going to cause huge consternation.

“I think it’s madness, really.”

He suggested the government should increase the income tax threshold so workers earning minimum wage weren’t taxed.