TUC urges minimum wage increase
Updated on 02 December 2008
The minimum wage should increase to £6.10 an hour next year and to £6.50 in 2010, and the age for being paid the statutory adult rate should be lowered, the TUC said.
In evidence to the Low Pay Commission (LPC), the TUC warned against being cautious about the next rise in the rate, currently £5.73 an hour for over 22-year-olds.
General secretary Brendan Barber said unlike higher paying sectors of the economy, the number of low paid jobs in care, cleaning services and catering had increased.
"A low minimum wage would not only leave low paid workers - predominantly women - in poverty unnecessarily but would also leave them with less money to spend. This would leave consumer spending around £250 million below where it should be.
"Timing is also important. The LPC is currently considering the rate for the minimum wage to apply from October 1, 2009 and the Bank of England is predicting that the UK economy should be past the worst of the recession by next autumn.
"Setting a decent legal minimum for wages is a vital part of establishing a fairer system of work and fighting poverty in the UK. All the signs are that the UK economy can afford a £6.10 hourly wage."
The TUC also called for the adult rate to be paid from the age of 21 and eventually reduced to 18.
Unison called for increased wage rates for apprentices, as well as tighter controls over their training.
General secretary Dave Prentis said: "Our evidence shows that many apprentices do a full-time job, carrying out the same tasks as their colleagues, but get paid significantly less money for the work they do. Many of our young members working as apprentices tell us they receive as little as £80 per week.
"If the Government wants to encourage more young people on to apprenticeship schemes, it will have to stop treating them like second-class citizens and give them a fair rate for the job."
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