Min Wage
As of today, Thursday 1st October, the minimum wage, (legally the lowest amount an employer has to pay you and conversely the lowest you can sell your labour for) is to increase.
If you’re aged over 22 you’ll now get £5.80 an hour, up from £5.73.
If you’re between 18 and 21 you’re now on £4.83 an hour, which is a pay rise of 6p.
And if you’re under 18 you’ll now get by on £3.57 an hour with 4p more in your pocket, an increase of 1.1%
It is ten years since the minimum wage was introduced in the United Kingdom and although initially opposed by the Conservatives, I think we can all agree that it is a good thing. The bosses who claimed it would mean jobs cuts have been proved wrong. It helps those at the bottom of the ladder, the most vulnerable workers in our society.
It was announced on Tuesday during Gordon Brown’s speech to the Labour Party Conference in Brighton that the minimum wage is set to increase over the next five years. Good news I’m sure we can all agree.
But I have a bone to pick… why are there age groups?
I work in a bar and I will now get the £5.80 wage. Some of my colleagues will now receive the £4.83 wage. We have exactly the same job, the same duties, the same responsibilities. So why should they receive less pay than me?
The argument is that it offers young people easier access to the workplace, that all important first step on the employment ladder if they choose to leave school, giving them an advantage if you will. The only advantage though is for the employer, who can exploit younger workers. How can anyone live on £3.57 an hour?
It could be said that most people aged 16-18 would still be living at home, working part-time in service industry positions. But such assumptions are dangerous, misplaced and irrelevant. It is nothing short of age discrimination.
The British Youth Council are currently runninga campaign to right this issue, so get involved, email your MP, and try and get things changed.
An hour’s work is an hour’s work, no matter how old you are.
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