Paper rounds

[gardenknowin]

Does anyone know if there is any legislation or recommendations regarding remuneration for doing paper rounds, particularly if the "paper-boy" concerned is of mature years (57).I seem to recall reading something about minimum wage rates (some time ago, mind) If there is no rule, would it not be correct for the newsagent to pay all, or a major percentage of, his "delivery charge" . I am currently helping out our local man, but feel that, for a 3.9 mile cycle ride at 0630, covering 16 houses (20 at weekends, when papers weigh up to 20kg - all Times/Tele/big mags etc, �10 per week is a bit low!! Any views, please?

[Buenchico]

Times and weights are irrelevant here but time is not. Irrespective of the type of occupation, any employee, aged 22 or over, must be paid at least �5.05 per hour. See the Depatment of Trade & Industry's website, here:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/nmw/index.htm
(The only way that the newsagent might legally be able to vary this is by paying a 'piece rate' for each newspaper delivered. Even then, your actual pay should still meet the basic requirements of the minimum wage. There's more information about this, together with a phone number for enquiries, on that link above).

You're also entitled to a certain number of days paid holiday each year. The number of days, to which you are entitled, is 4 times the number of days you work each week. (So, if you work 5 days per week you should get 20 days paid holiday each year but, if you work every day, you're entitled to 28 days paid holiday each year). The DTI website covers this, here:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/work_time_regs/wtr7.htm#section 7

Chris

[gardenknowin]

Many thanks, buenchico - shall try dipping my toes in some Tamil infested waters.....

[bob11]

could i get a paper round in longsite or levenshulme