Move to modernise Jersey migration and work rules

A proposed update to Jersey's housing and employment regulations has been drafted in a bid to use simpler language and modernise definitions.

The changes, put forward by the Chief Minister Deputy Lyndon Farnham, aim to reflect a wider range of relationships and family structures. Jersey currently has a system with four different categories.

People who are not married but have been in a relationship for two years could have the same rights as people who are married or in a civil partnership.

This would allow people with entitled to work only status to live in qualified housing with an eligible partner holding full housing rights.

Another proposed change is people with entitled status could lose their residency status if absent from Jersey for more than five years.

A person with entitled to work only could lose their residency status if they leave Jersey for more than a year.

A new category - licensed for lease only - could provide housing rights to workers without entitled or permanent entitled status.

Registered status could also be changed to be named standard to help prevent confusion between a registered person and registered accommodation.

The earliest the States could debate the proposition is 1 April.

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