Scrutiny hearings highlight concerns about child poverty
Scrutiny
23 July 2025
A Scrutiny sub-panel has heard evidence from local charities that around a fifth (20%) of families are struggling financially due to the high costs of food, housing and childcare in the Island, with many living in poverty.The sub-panel, which reports to the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, is reviewing how changes made to the ‘family friendly’ elements of the Employment Law in 2018 have been implemented and the impact they have had on local families and businesses.
As part of the review, the Panel recently held public hearings with a number of Jersey based charities and organisations who support new parents and young families in the Island. These included Family Nursing and Home Care; Brighter Futures; the Jersey Child Care Trust. Further hearings were held with the Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service (JACS); who are funded to communicate employment law, and the Minister for Social Security.
During the hearings the Panel discovered:
- Parents are going without food in order to ensure their children can be fed.
- Parents cannot afford to take their full parental leave entitlements due to the high cost of living in the Island.
- Some families are living in poverty despite both parents working full-time. Where these families also have children with additional needs and disabilities, their struggle is even greater.
- The increasing living costs are impacting middle-class families and those on lower incomes. Single parent families are even more vulnerable.
- Parents do not understand what their maternity or parental leave entitlements are, especially once the first 6 weeks has passed.
- Fathers and partners of birth mothers are often not aware of how and when they should apply for their parental leave.
- Grandparents are often supporting families and providing crucial care for their grandchildren, but they are not entitled to leave.
‘Many of the organisations also highlighted that parents, especially single parents, often rely on other family members, such as a grandparent, to help with childcare. These family members are often still working, but under the current provisions are not entitled to any parental leave. The Panel believes this highlights the need for a more flexible approach when it comes parental leave entitlements and who can use it, especially when parents wish to return to work. It is important that the legislation allows families to be given a real choice when it comes to a child’s early years to ensure they are given the best possible start in life.’
The Panel has also heard from more than 430 Islanders who responded to a survey, launched as part of the review, and have spoken to a number of individuals, including fathers and grandparents, during a series of pop-up stands which have been held recently. An analysis of the responses will now be carried out to establish common themes which can be used as evidence in the Panel’s final report.
A number of submissions have been received from local businesses regarding the changes and their impact, and the Panel is keen to gain further insight into this area. Businesses and business leaders are being encouraged to make a submission via email ([email protected]) or by writing to the Family Friendly Post-Implementation Sub-Panel at Morier House, Halkett Place, St Helier, JE1 1DD.
The Panel will consider all the evidence that has been submitted and will produce an evidence-based report detailing their findings and recommendations. The report will be presented to the States Assembly by the end of September.
More information about the Review can be found on our website.
