Are the minimum wage increases enough?

Former_MSE_Guy · 12 May 2009 at 4:13PM

This thread is to discuss the following news story:

Are the minimum wage increases enough?

Graham_Devon · 12 May 2009 at 4:21PM

To get more people laid off? Yup!

tomterm8 · 12 May 2009 at 4:25PM

Um, more than enough. Given how unemployment is rising, keeping the minimum wage increase below inflation is only sensible, since any larger increase in the minimum wage would probably lead to higher unemployment.

1984ReturnsForReal_2 · 12 May 2009 at 4:35PM

Business can handle a 7p rise.

Thrugelmir · 12 May 2009 at 4:43PM

No. There needs to be a basic liveable wage for everyone. Unfortunately some employers will always pay the minimum to their employees.

StevieJ · 12 May 2009 at 4:47PM

Don't get Dopester started

sdooley · 12 May 2009 at 4:53PM

Germany's about to go into its 4th recession since reunification, no-one there has real confidence in the economy because they're all scared of being forced to work for the state for 1 euro per month or into a private sector €400 euro (per month!) job.

Extreme low pay won't help the economy in the long run - the Fords and FDR brought the US out of the Depression with a rise in wages (and inflation, and the war).

lemonjelly · 13 May 2009 at 12:08PM

This was a fine line decision. Big business really pushed for a freeze on this.

Personally I am glad there was at least a nominal raise to the NMW. It shows an intent. This was one of the better stories out of westminster this week.

I would assert that by putting the cash into the pockets of lower paid is one of the quicker ways to stimulate the local economy. By increasing their spending power, it will benefit local shops etc - the lower paid are less likely to go off on extravagant shopping trips far away etc. This will allow them to maintain their spending, & they'll do this near to where they live, boosting the income of shopkeekers & keeping fellow locals in jobs. And the circle goes on...

Whilst the raise isn't massive, at least it is something. Every penny counts. There will be some who will acknowledge the use of an extra couple of quid each week.

lemonjelly · 13 May 2009 at 12:10PM

Graham_Devon wrote: »

To get more people laid off? Yup!

This is also a fallacy for a ususally intelligent poster. The masses of redundancies line has been spouted ever since the NMW was proposed, & never happened.

dsab · 13 May 2009 at 12:23PM

sdooley wrote: »

Germany's about to go into its 4th recession since reunification, no-one there has real confidence in the economy because they're all scared of being forced to work for the state for 1 euro per month or into a private sector €400 euro (per month!) job.

Extreme low pay won't help the economy in the long run - the Fords and FDR brought the US out of the Depression with a rise in wages (and inflation, and the war).

:rotfl:Congratulations! I believe that's the biggest piece of uninformed bulls**t I have ever read on this board. Can only shake my head about this statement... :rolleyes:

jojo1964 · 13 May 2009 at 12:56PM

lemonjelly wrote: »

This was a fine line decision. Big business really pushed for a freeze on this.

Personally I am glad there was at least a nominal raise to the NMW. It shows an intent. This was one of the better stories out of westminster this week.

I would assert that by putting the cash into the pockets of lower paid is one of the quicker ways to stimulate the local economy. By increasing their spending power, it will benefit local shops etc - the lower paid are less likely to go off on extravagant shopping trips far away etc. This will allow them to maintain their spending, & they'll do this near to where they live, boosting the income of shopkeekers & keeping fellow locals in jobs. And the circle goes on...

Whilst the raise isn't massive, at least it is something. Every penny counts. There will be some who will acknowledge the use of an extra couple of quid each week.

Unfortunately. many of those on minimum wage have it topped up by tax credits, which will reduce as the wages go up, so no real difference for many, personally i disagree with a minimum wage, as it is a way for employers to keep wages low knowing that the state will subsidise his workforce, although the only option would be to increase the minimum wage to a level that meant there were no tax credits (so contradicting myself)

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