The Enterprise Minister has said there is a clear distinction between the island’s minimum wage and the minimum required salary for migrant visas during a heated exchange in Keys.
Minister Tim Johnston faced pointed questions from MHK Lawrie Hooper about the timing of proposed changes to migrant worker salary thresholds.
Mr Hooper asked: “Does he not think that when he brought the minimum wage regulations to Tynwald, it would have been relevant for Tynwald members to know that at the same time as not increasing the minimum wage to a living wage, the government were proposing increasing the minimum salary requirements for worker migrants to a living wage.”
However, Mr Johnston maintained the policies were separate, stating: “The setting of an absolute minimum salary for immigration purposes is distinctly different from a statutory hourly minimum wage rate.
“The minimum salary to pay to immigration workers is not statutory. That’s a policy decision.
“Just like in the United Kingdom, they’ve set their minimum salary rate now, I think about £38,000. That’s a policy decision. We will set our minimum salary rate based on the policy we decide on the island which is right for our economy.”
Legal
Chris Thomas sought legal clarification: “For the avoidance of doubt, can the minister confirm that he acknowledges that the worker migrant salary is set in law?”
Mr Johnston confirmed this to be the case, but added that it is “not a statutory minimum payment”.
Julie Edge questioned employment flexibility differences: “Can he tell me how a local worker’s got more flexibility over an immigrant taking a job?”
mr Johnston explained that while local workers can switch jobs effectively whenever they want, a person on a migrant visa must apply to change jobs.
7 Comments