Hundreds of hazards in farm worker accommodation
BBCMore than 300 hazards have been found in 295 units of farm worker accommodation in Jersey since May, an answer to a written States question has revealed.
The standard of farm worker accommodation was brought into focus after an inquest into the death of a Filipino farm worker found his living conditions contributed to his death.
Responding to the hazards statistics, Planning Minister Mark Boleat said hazards, including mould, damp and cold accommodation, were "quite small things" and would be found "in most people's homes".
However, Deputy Beatriz Poree said they were "only minor issues if you don't have to live in that accommodation".
George Michael Monte De Ramos Castrudes, 37, died from carbon monoxide poisoning in January 2025 after starting a fire in his accommodation in Grouville.
His inquest concluded his decision to start the fire was because his cabin was cold, and was made worse by his worries about money.
This led to increased calls for the inspection of such accommodation.
In response to the question from Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, Boleat wrote: "Since 1 May 2026, officers have inspected 295 units of agricultural accommodation and identified 315 hazards requiring remedial action.
"The majority of inspected units were found to contain one or more hazards requiring remedial action.
"The most common hazards identified related to excess cold, electrical safety, damp and mould, falls and water supply issues."
Boleat spoke to the BBC after the States sitting and said: "That might sound rather alarming, but the hazards can be quite small things.
"They've all been dealt with. We haven't had to take any formal enforcement action.
"I think if you inspected most peoples homes in Jersey now they would have a lot of those hazards. The important thing is that we are identifying the hazards and they are being dealt with."
However, Poree said: "They are only minor issues if you don't have to live in that accommodation.
"I would say electric faults are very dangerous to life, mould is very dangerous to people's health, cold and damp really effects people when they are at times of rest."
She added: "We need to take this more seriously and really try and investigate what he [Boleat] calls major and what he calls minor issues.
"I have been listening for years now to migrant workers complaining about accommodation. Not every employer provides bad accommodation but the figures are staggering."
In the States, Boleat told members: "I would suggest that if inspectors came into many of your homes, some of these hazards would be identified."
Feltham said Boleat's comments "missed the mark".
She said: "There is a huge difference between the power that States members have and also the income that they have to fix issues in their homes compared to migrant farm workers here on a work permit.
"We need to rebuild our reputation as an island where people can come and live and work safely."
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