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MSE News: Minimum wage to rise by 2.2%
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Captain_Moonshine wrote: »
The minimum wage is an absolute insult to hard working people. It started off at a ridiculously low level, and has failed miserably to keep up with the ever-increasing cost of living. I think it should be doubled.
I agree with most of what you say on this thread CM: the NMW *is* too low - hence the need to top it up with TC, etc.
I'm quite shocked at some of the attitudes towards people on NMW on this thread! I know plenty of people on NMW or not much more, and many, if not all, of those are intelligent, educated people... They're certainly not living a life of luxury!! My sister works at the local hospital for NMW when she's not at college. She gets a tiny amount of housing benefit, and once she's paid her utilities, council tax, etc, she's left with next to nothing. She can barely afford to feed herself, never mind go to the pub!!!! Some of the misconceptions around are quite staggering... of course, everyone on NMW spends all their money on beer and fags. They're queuing up there behind all the single mothers on benefits... :wall:
I believe there are many employers who are actually paying their workers LESS than they would have been had there not been a NMW in place. But because they can get away with paying so little, they do.... I know of several people who started off on X% above minimum wage (when it was first introduced)... their employers then didn't give a pay rise until min wage increased, and they have been stuck on min wage since...
BUT just wanted to point out that low to middle-income wages in general are failing to keep up with the cost of living, not just those on MW, at least in the sector I work in. Our pay has been frozen for the last 3 years, so we are now earning substantially less than we were, when you look at inflation, RPI, etc. Seems like pay on the lower end of the scale is not really moving... but funnily enough the top-end are still getting their bonuses, etc.0 -
I believe there are many employers who are actually paying their workers LESS than they would have been had there not been a NMW in place. But because they can get away with paying so little, they do.... I know of several people who started off on X% above minimum wage (when it was first introduced)... their employers then didn't give a pay rise until min wage increased, and they have been stuck on min wage since...
Yes I do agree that some employers see the MINIMUM wage as the "going rate" rather than being the bottom end of what they should be paying.
Having said that, I still think that having a minimum wage is better than not having one. It is wrong however in that young people can be paid less (it starts at £3.57 ph for a sixteen year old) and you cannot claim working tax credit if you are under 25.Barclaycard 0% - [STRIKE]£1688.37 [/STRIKE] Paid off 10.06.120 -
Yes I do agree that some employers see the MINIMUM wage as the "going rate" rather than being the bottom end of what they should be paying.
Having said that, I still think that having a minimum wage is better than not having one. It is wrong however in that young people can be paid less (it starts at £3.57 ph for a sixteen year old) and you cannot claim working tax credit if you are under 25.
I agree, surely its a clear example if age discrimination if there are two people doing exactly the same job, one 17 and one 25, who are being paid different wages. I've never understood the justifications for it, it seems so obviously wrong.0 -
I never understood why between the ages of 24 and 25 your cost of living goes up (according to the government minimum you legally need to live on) irrelevent to your actual circumstances.Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott
It's amazing how those with a can-do attitude and willingness to 'pitch in and work' get all the luck, isn't it?
Please consider buying some pet food and giving it to your local food bank collection or animal charity. Animals aren't to blame for the cost of living crisis.0 -
Yes I do agree that some employers see the MINIMUM wage as the "going rate" rather than being the bottom end of what they should be paying.
Having said that, I still think that having a minimum wage is better than not having one. It is wrong however in that young people can be paid less (it starts at £3.57 ph for a sixteen year old) and you cannot claim working tax credit if you are under 25.
Completely agree about the age thing... your rent and bills, etc are the same whether you're 24 or 26...
Going back to my sis, she can't get WTC either; she's 26 but works less than 30 hours a week (can't get more guaranteed hours). No children.
Agreed that it's better to have a NMW than not have one... but it's far from perfect!0 -
Person_one wrote: »I agree, surely its a clear example if age discrimination if there are two people doing exactly the same job, one 17 and one 25, who are being paid different wages. I've never understood the justifications for it, it seems so obviously wrong.
What *are* the justifications for it, does anyone know? Is it based on the assumption that under-25s are likely to still be training / living with parents? Mighty big assumption if so....0 -
Which is why I don't understand why it isn't based on circumstances then? I was assessed as an independant student when at uni and so my figures for my loan/fees were different for someone that was a dependant student.
would that really be so hard to do?
I think one of the justifications is supposed to be that LHA is dependant on whether or not you deserve your own flat or not, with sharing of flats for the under 25's being more acceptable than the over 25's, but I don't get that personally.
But why you're not eligable for income support/working tax credits I don't know.Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott
It's amazing how those with a can-do attitude and willingness to 'pitch in and work' get all the luck, isn't it?
Please consider buying some pet food and giving it to your local food bank collection or animal charity. Animals aren't to blame for the cost of living crisis.0 -
What *are* the justifications for it, does anyone know? Is it based on the assumption that under-25s are likely to still be training / living with parents? Mighty big assumption if so....
That, and also that it should be a motivator to keep young people in training and education longer. Doesn't wash with me though. If age discrimination is illegal, then this is definitely it and someone should be getting charged!0
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