Jersey Registration Card Day One and concerns about Volunteering

Today is Jersey Registration Card Day One.

Or as the JEP more correctly describes it;

“A major new crackdown on people living and working illegally begins today in the biggest shake-up of immigration controls in a generation.”

So we are being ushered down to the Social Security aka SS Offices in La Motte Street to volunteer for prosecution under the welcoming “BENEFIT THIEVES LET’S STOP THEM” poster.

I called in at about 2pm today and found the extraordinary spectacle of no claimants or mystified members of the public at all queuing - but behind the front desk saw more grinning staff faces than a toothpaste advert on American TV.

What on earth was going on I wondered when I was beckoned over with a cheery wave – can this really be the same place that normally confronts enquirers with a barrage of empty chairs and just a few “I dare you” stares….?

Do you have any printed information? I asked.

Yes, what language would you prefer, English, Portuguese or Polish….Have you been busy? Yes and we have even had several lawyers in checking to see that we are doing things properly too…

Would anybody be prepared to give me an interview on video for my blog(s) I asked?

Leave your details and we will ‘phone back….

Whilst there, I called into the Work Zone to enquire about “Volunteering”.

Not for myself but we have received several “complaints” about things going wrong for volunteers who have been injured or incurred expense when giving their time for free.

Is there a written “Code of Standards” we wanted to know that protects the volunteers and the people they are helping?…

…after several onward referrals and a return to the front desk the verbal information was that…

In a word the answer is NO.

This is something that volunteers must sort out for themselves with the organisation or business that they have volunteered to work with.

Which seems a bit vague because the SS Department is very actively promoting voluntary, unpaid work for those out of work and these people can be school leavers (with little or no experience of the wicked world) or mature persons with very little money to spare and disabilities to contend with.

There seems to be an official reliance on “Registered Charities” and employers to act ethically but since there is no such thing as a “Register” in Jersey the whole system seems to be the usual, untested “Jersey way” of operating…and we are especially concerned that vulnerable people (either as volunteer helpers or those being helped) are adequately checked out and validated.

We shall of course be writing to Minister Le Gresley for clarification on these issues (assuming that the ‘phone remains silent re an interview) but we did also call in at the JACS office (behind the Ann Summers shop) to see what Employment or Social Security Tribunals are currently imminent.

In fact there has not been a Social Security Tribunal for months and none is planned which does surprise us at SSTAG since so many claimants complain to us about the treatment they receive at the SS office. What happens to all these unhappy people?

We did note that there is an Employment Tribunal scheduled for this Thursday according to the official note pinned to the external door…we have also learned through the grapevine that the electronic notification of such hearings might actually become a reality in the near future because an extra member of staff is being recruited!!!

Perhaps the official Jersey Delegation to China will be able to resource a cheap IT programme to help this come to fruition even sooner?

As always, we welcome any comments or information especially from users of the SS, Health or Housing Department systems.

Good or bad do tell us how you find the standards of service provided.