Minister and family targeted with online abuse
BBCA government minister has told the Jersey's States Assembly he and his family have been targeted with abuse online after he made comments on workers' rights.
Deputy Gerald Voisin told business leaders and the BBC last week that improving rights for workers might have to take "second place" if it were to slow economic growth.
But, following a backlash, the economic development head stood on Tuesday to speak to the assembly and denied accusations his comments were inflammatory.
Voisin said "a small section" of the community was seeking to "whip up a frenzy" against him on social media, and that it had even led to his wife receiving abusive phone calls.
According to Statistics Jersey, in 2025 the economy fell in real terms by 1.7%, while experts who advised the government said this summer that they expected a further fall.
Responding to that, he considered to be a healthy annual economic growth rate, Voisin said: "I think we should be targeting a 3% growth."
He said "difficult decisions" would have to be made in order to achieve that.
At the time, he added: "It's very nice to be able to give workers' greater rights but, if it's doing that at the cost of economic growth, then I think it has to take second place for the time being."
Reflecting on the backlash, Voisin said: "None of my comments are made to be inflammatory, but to stimulate discussion and debate.
"But people on social media think it's fun to whip up a frenzy against me, so I get slated on social media.
"My wife has taken abusive phone calls, and it is another reason why a lot of good people don't stand for this assembly because of the abuse that they think they'll get if they stand up and make what is an informed comment."
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