UK minimum wage to rise to �5.52

[Gromit]

Wooohoo! New Labour finally realising its commitment to the low paid. Everyone rejoice!

Seriously, what do you think?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6425965.st m

[jno]

one of the genuinely good things that this government has done. It's obviously not a lot of money, but that's because it's a minimum. And I can't think of any particular reason why it should be above inflation.

[Theland]

I work in a factory that employs agency people on industrial hygiene. It's hot, dusty hard work , for which they only earn the minimum wage.
They have no union muscle to get a better deal, and it's a disgrace what they get paid, for what they do. I think they should be paid more.
Also, in the London area, the minimum wage will buy less than further north.

[youngmafbog]

The problem with a minimum wage is that you bring the bottom rung up to the next. Those on the next rung say 'Hey I should earn more than them because my job entails blah blah blah' so they too get a pay rise. This then continues up the ladder, prices rise and no-one is better off. It is therefore folly to interfere with the economy.

The question of whether it is morally right is another thing though, but how do you prevent the above and actually achieve what you are setting out to do? Could all form a Kibutz I suppose

[gina32]

i work as a carer and get only minimum wage, if i work overtime i dont get a better rate and if i work nghts or weekends my pay is the same, its scandalous

[johnizere]

eventually we'll all be on minimum wage........think about it.

[poolger]

Maybe I am just cynical but I think with all the minimum wage rises, its just so that the government get more in tax and N.I. At the last rise my daughter was only better off by something pathetic like a � by the time the extra tax/NI was deducted.

[Le Chat]

On the whole I think that the minimum wage is a good thing, although some employers can use it as an excuse not to pay any more. For example, Pinetops Gym in Formby. When I worked there (not as a fitness instructor myself) 8 yrs ago, the most senior instructor received �5 per hour. All these years later, that same instructor receives the minimum wage(�5.35) So the employer now uses the minimum wage as his general wage, to avoid having to pay more.

[johnizere]

my point exactly, le chat.......

[kwicky]

The fact that the hourly amount is �5.52 shows that workers are being valued by automatons not real people. That extra 2p helps nobody!

[diamondrocks]

minimum wage IS a good thing but what is it with the extra 2p??