MSE News: Low-paid 'need minimum wage rise'

Former_MSE_Helen · 14 June 2012 at 9:25AM

"An increase in the minimum wage is required to protect low-income workers, says Oxfam ..."

Read the full story:
Low-paid 'need minimum wage rise'

michaels · 14 June 2012 at 8:21PM

Strange if 'cuts' are disproportionately hitting those in poverty that there was a fall in poverty announced today (thread on this later) due to a fall in median household income greater than any reduction in household income of the bottom deciles...but lets not let the facts get in the way of a good story.

I also liked the bit about a 'perfect storm of rising living standards'...you what?!

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver · 14 June 2012 at 10:40PM

There is Tory support for Race to the bottom in wages, Those most vulnerable disabled, unemployed are made disproportionately to pay for the Bankers !!!!lessness with swinging cuts.
And the Government feeds the Right Wing Press including our Pal the Daily Hate the Scroungers Rhetoric WHEN THERE AREN'T ENOUGH JOBS AND WAGES AND SALARIES ARE NOT ENOUGH AND NEED TOPPING UP BY BENEFITS.

oldvicar · 14 June 2012 at 11:06PM

I was surprised to learn that Oxfam has a Director of UK Poverty. Political campaigning about UK minimum wage and benefit levels is not the sort of thing you associate them with.

You have to smile when they anticipated that the official figures would show an increase in 'poverty' when the exact opposite happened. Maybe they should stick to what they are known for - relief of poverty etc in develoing countries.

TheSandman · 15 June 2012 at 9:37AM

Any large increase in the minimum wage would creatse a large increase in unit labour costs making everything more expensive to produce which stokes inflation and reduces competitiveness.

Far better campaigning for tax breaks - An increase in allowances before NI & Income Tax - paid for with a reduction in the state. When the two are merged campaign for 30p & 40p bands.

N.B.

Tax credits - Anyone for overtime?

Wifey working 16 hours - LOL nae chance!

Young male on 40 hours - aye please boss, and dinnae you worry wifey I'll work so you don't have to!

malakhoff · 15 June 2012 at 3:39PM

The only good thing that Tony Blair did as Prime Minister was to introduce the Minimum Wage. However it is still far to low for the average worker to live on, and realistically it needs to be raised to £7 ph.

I work in the Security Industry, and am appalled at the low Hourly rates that some Employers are offering. Imagine being employed as a Retail Security Guard in a Supermarket on the minimum wage! The staff who work for the Store are getting a much higher Hourly rate, and the Guard has to cope with potentially being assaulted. And for what....... Peanuts!

jenster · 15 June 2012 at 6:08PM

malakhoff wrote: »

The only good thing that Tony Blair did as Prime Minister was to introduce the Minimum Wage. However it is still far to low for the average worker to live on, and realistically it needs to be raised to £7 ph.

I work in the Security Industry, and am appalled at the low Hourly rates that some Employers are offering. Imagine being employed as a Retail Security Guard in a Supermarket on the minimum wage! The staff who work for the Store are getting a much higher Hourly rate, and the Guard has to cope with potentially being assaulted. And for what....... Peanuts!

the minimum wage was / still is a good idea - however those on it shouldnt have to pay tax on that wage , that way those employers who cant afford more would still be employing people , and those on the min wage would get to keep what they earn

dtaylor84 · 16 June 2012 at 12:00AM

Are MSE actually just copying their news stories directly from the Daily Mail now?

Daily_Mail wrote:

Oxfam is calling for an increase in the minimum wage to protect low-income workers from a 'perfect storm' of benefit cuts, rising living standards and a lack of jobs.

and

MSE wrote:

An increase in the minimum wage is required to protect low-income workers from a "perfect storm" of benefit cuts, rising living standards and a lack of jobs, Oxfam warns.

Yet, if you look at the press release, there's none of this nonsense about "protecting" the low-paid from rising living standards:

Oxfam wrote:

It describes a 'perfect storm' of factors - from increasing unemployment and lack of decent jobs, to rising living costs and falling incomes and the proposed deep cuts to welfare and public services - that are buffeting the UK's most vulnerable citizens, both those in and out of work.

Nor, indeed, does the full report.

(And even the Grauniad got it right.)

RexBanner · 16 June 2012 at 7:03PM

Working in deprived communities I find that people in stressful, unstable, min wage jobs get an unfair deal compared to people on the dole.

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MSE News: Low-paid 'need minimum wage rise'

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