The Treasury Minster has advised those who are concerned they may lose their jobs as a result of the minimum wage increase to talk to their employers.
Dr Alex Allinson MHK said this in response to a question from Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse.
Mr Moorhouse asked the Treasury Minster “What consideration has been given to the impact of the increase in the minimum wage on workers on worker visas”.
Job Losses
Mr Moorhouse said: “There appear to be an increasing number of people who came to the island on worker visas who currently feel insecure.
“Several have raised concerns about losing their jobs and fear they’ll have to return home because of the requirement that they’ve got to be within work whilst here, is the Minister aware of this challenge?”
In response, the Treasury Minister said: “In another place we debated the increases in minimum wage. I know that since then, there have been various people who have warned this will cause unemployment and job losses.”
‘Talk to your employer’
“When you look at the empirical data in terms of rises in the minimum wage this is not borne out internationally. However, I can completely understand those fears.
“The reality is that the minimum wage increases, as approved by Tynwald last month, have that six month lead in time to give better certainty and security, both to employers and employees and so certainly, if anyone is concerned about their future employment next year, I would suggest that they talk to their employer.
“For those people who are on the worker migrant visa and are perhaps made redundant for whatever reason, there are various provisions for them to seek other forms of employment whilst on the island or to actually leave the Isle of Man.”
The full exchange can be heard below:
