I made this speech in general debate on the new population management regime.
Sir, the new Law is not perfect. The current Law is not perfect. There never will be a perfect system. It does beg the question, as Deputy Yerby has already done, do we really need a law at all? Were we to have no barriers to entry would we have vast swathes of people knocking down the doors wanting to come here? Well, speaking as a true Accountant, I can only say it depends. It depends if the jobs and houses are here of course. But, and touching on what Deputy Dorey said earlier, it also depends how easy it is to access our health and social care and benefits systems. But those are the subjects of more than one debate and will not be something that will be resolved overnight, involving issues over human rights themselves of course.
So, if we do have to have a system, why not keep what we’ve already got?
Well for me a key reason for change is our current system is not based on need. In many ways it is quite a class based system that values certain professions and work above others. And nowhere more so than in healthcare. Guernsey is competing in the global marketplace for skilled health and social care professionals. The current system is just one barrier that gets in the way of recruiting for those we need. Not want, need. Whilst we can apply for 15 year licences for doctors and specialist consultants, the standard licence for nursing staff is 5 years despite the fact that a surgeon can’t operate unless we have sufficiently qualified nursing staff supporting them. We need less barriers not more.
The new system enables that to happen. The linking of permits to jobs and not individuals makes so much sense. It reduces the barriers to, and costs of, recruitment. Of course there are other issues at work here, but this is one area where we can make a difference now. Deputy Roffey is right, Health and Social Care is a winner here, and in response to Deputy Ferbrache, in terms of ensuring suitably qualified staff and continuity of care in care establishments, so are those living in care homes. No it is not perfect, there will be losers, and that does make me uncomfortable I have to admit, but there are far more winners in the health and social care sector than losers and Health and Social care staff have done a lot of work to make that the case.
I do think it is unfortunate that Deputy Ferbrache, as Economic Development President can’t vote for the new Ordinance based on an aspect that will have little impact, whereas our largest employment sector, the finance industry is supportive of the new regime. The current system is bureaucratic and cumbersome, creates uncertainty for employer and employee unnecessarily and for no constructive benefit and I speak from personal experience there. Deputy Dorey makes the point about transparency. The current system is far from that. Not only that but it is also being used by employers for purposes not originally intended and that is as a means of managing staff out. Licences have been used as a reason to get rid of underperforming staff, rather than to manage them appropriately. The benefit of the new system is it separates the suitability of the individual from the job requirement. That, in turn, should help to drive better people management.
For these reasons, I do not want the law delayed now. That does not mean I think it is fantastic and I do have concerns over the 5 year licences and still over the treatment of seasonal workers, but I don’t think that is enough to prevent it from coming into effect now, especially given a review is guaranteed. I would therefore request that members vote for the Ordinance, as amended, today.