30's/40's/50's on minimum wage?

Any

AP007 wrote: »

Why don't you earn the NMW?

Excuse me sir, it must be the fact that english is not my first language that I did not put it in such a way everyone understands (someone must as someone pressed the thank you button).
What I meant was that the digits on my payslip are far removed from the digits of NMW. To clarify further - the digits go upwards.

marybelle01

Any wrote: »

It has nothing to do with "every !!!!!! and larry coming here and taking out jobs, so I, an englishman have NMW job..".
I am one of the !!!!!! and larries and it might surprise you I do not earn anywhere near NMW and I certainly didn't force your wage down.. It meant taking qualifications twice, once in each country and language, night bar job and weekend attendance of school that I paid for, but now at 30 no one differentiate where I came from or if I had a bar job, just if I can do the job they want me to do and what my attitude is.

Lot of people decide they don't need the responsibility, the late hours or the need to live through a job... they want to go to work to earn for roof over their head and food in their bellies and every spare minute to spend with their family/on their hobbies.
It doesn't mean they are useless or not worthy. They just have different priorities and wants.
As said before, each level of workers is needed - otherwise it will not work.

I agree entirely. Migrants are often very motivated to do well and work hard in their new country - they wouldn't have migrated if they thought it would be more of the same. Whilst it is both true that some people are entirely happy to have jobs that make no demands on their personal time, which may limit their earning capacity; and that there will always be a need for low wage jobs and those jobs will always exist, it is the energy and determination of migrants that is often missing in those who moan most.

If you live, for example, in an out of the way place with little public transport, and do not drive, where there is no work except for a very few jobs on very low wages; if you have skills that are not in demand and few qualifications - then you must accept what there is or do something about your situation. Move. Learn to drive. Get qualifications. Learn new skills. Do not sit around moaning about your life, change it. That is what migrants do. Stop blaming them for having the "get up and go" mentality that others don't have.

AP007

Any wrote: »

Excuse me sir, it must be the fact that english is not my first language that I did not put it in such a way everyone understands (someone must as someone pressed the thank you button).
What I meant was that the digits on my payslip are far removed from the digits of NMW. To clarify further - the digits go upwards.

Excuse me Sir? That's a new one

You have said 'I am one of the !!!!!! and larries and it might surprise you I do not earn anywhere near NMW .'

I read that to be since the OP said every !!!!!! and larry earns the NMW that you were NOT getting the NMW

Wasn't very clear at all if you ask me. I would have said 'I earn a lot more than NMW' not 'anywhere near' that's normally when its not as much

falko89

I did not intend for this thread to go down the migrant route really but since it has I shall have my input.

There was a time in the not to distant past where living in the back of beyond like I do did not matter, the crappier the job the better the pay in order to get folk to do it. As I've said before I earned more 10 years ago than I do now.

Then what happened? We decided to open the flood gates and all came pouring in and what happened? Employers saw they could get folk to do the same jobs for the min wage and that's where we are at now. So who is to blame? Is it the migrants? Is it the employers? horse for course really if you ask me, one is the effect of the other.

Now suppose when we open the flood gates again to Romania, and out of Romania came the finest crop of doctors, managers, professionals what would happen? Would native professionals still be paid the same? Not a hope in hell, all would be cut to the bare minimum.

And as for motivation there is a psychological thing going on here I think, Eastern Europeans on min wage in the UK are earning twice three times the amount they would at home, so although they have the same living costs as the rest of us bar cramming as many possible into a house they think they are earning a decent wage and if you think you're earning a decent living you're motivated. Now suppose I went to Australia, and someone was going to pay me £15 per hour to sweep floors, clean toilets, work in a factory, I'd jump at the chance.

falko89

Any wrote: »

It has nothing to do with "every !!!!!! and larry coming here and taking out jobs, so I, an englishman have NMW job..".
I am one of the !!!!!! and larries and it might surprise you I do not earn anywhere near NMW and I certainly didn't force your wage down.. It meant taking qualifications twice, once in each country and language, night bar job and weekend attendance of school that I paid for, but now at 30 no one differentiate where I came from or if I had a bar job, just if I can do the job they want me to do and what my attitude is.

Lot of people decide they don't need the responsibility, the late hours or the need to live through a job... they want to go to work to earn for roof over their head and food in their bellies and every spare minute to spend with their family/on their hobbies.
It doesn't mean they are useless or not worthy. They just have different priorities and wants.
As said before, each level of workers is needed - otherwise it will not work.

I hear this myself and it baffles me, certainly where I work the higher paid you are the less you actually do, no late nights here, the only folk hit with the overtime clause are the runts like myself while the managers etc can swan off home and be with their families.

Denning.

falko89 wrote: »

Here is an attitude I have come across a couple of times now and I am wondering how prevalent it is in today's society.

If you're in your 30's/40's/50's you must be next to useless if you're still earning the minimum wage, why when you're half way through you're working life have you not progressed any?

It ignores the fact that rather than sit on the dole some of us would rather take any old job to pay our own way, in fact this attitude more or less clumps us in with those who can't be bothered working, it ignores the fact that we opened the doors to any and every tom !!!!!! and harry looking into the country thus forcing wages down.

Is this how people really feel? When I am searching for better paid work do employers think "Why is this guy only earning min wage? He must be useless" or do they think "This guy is prepared to do what ever it takes" or perhaps they think "OK this guy will work for min wage, that's what I'll give him"

So interested in your thoughts on the subject.

Blaming immigrants for you being on minimum wage is stupid. If immigrants are more employable than you and can attract a higher wage then it is your fault, no on else’s.

Denning.

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Does anybody in this country not have the opportunity to go to university, or do vocational training? What stops you improving your own prospects?

I have never worked for minimum wage, and am far from a 'total bottom kisser'. In fact must of my opportunities have arisen because I will challenge the norm.

Maybe your attitude holds you back?

It is a very small minority of people who don't have time to 'improve' themselves, we are talking about those people who work and care for someone etc. Most people have access to a wealth of resources, just sitting in the library in an evening and reading educational books can help, that's before you even consider the internet, sweet jesus, there is nothing you can't learn on the internet and millions of people who are more than willing to help.

Cookiee

My husband is on NMW and is 40. He is not on this by choice. Unfortunately he is an agency worker and has to work to the wage the agency give him. If the placement ends or the company decide to reduce their workforce, then there is nothing my OH can do. He has to pick himself up and move onto the next job.

In this age he cannot be picky. He has to graft for every penny and hope that he can find a job that will: a - be long term and b - last longer than 12 weeks. He would rather work for NMW then not work at all.

The NMW is pathetic and the government need to sort this out, but that's for another thread.

BurnleyBob

Romanians and Bulgarians have unrestricted access to the UK (and its benefits system) from January 1 next year. They have 29 million citizens combined. Their unemployment rates are 7.5% and 13.1%, respectively.

At present the monthly minimum wage in Romania is €180 (£150) and €160 (£133) in Bulgaria.

Those of them who are unemployed/skint/homeless would likely see Britain as an attractive destination, especially those with kids.

gadgetmind

Nice rant but let's look at the facts.

Recent immigrants to UK 'make net contribution'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24813467

"The study by University College London said recent immigrants were less likely to claim benefits and live in social housing than people born in Britain."