Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP
West Edinburgh Times (national minimum wage)
The National Minimum Wage rises to £5.35 per hour for those over 22 years old from 1st October. For 18 to 21 year olds it increases to £4.45 and for 16 to 17 year olds to £3.30 an hour. Before the National Minimum Wage was introduced by this Government, wages of as little as £1.20 per hour were common and legal.
The minimum wage has been very successful. But some employers try to dodge it – and their excuses are pathetic. Here are some examples;“I didn't think the workers were worth the national minimum wage, but she only wanted £3 an hour, he doesn't deserve it - he's a total waste of space, I didn't think it applied to small employers and he's over 65, so the national minimum wage doesn't apply”. By far the majority of employers are honest, so instances of non-payment are in the minority. However this list shows there are still some rogue employers out there willing to flout the law. So we’re stepping up enforcement to clamp down on employers who won’t pay the minimum wage.
Enforcement teams around the UK respond to complaints about non-payment. They help employers and employees and where necessary take enforcement action against those who fail to pay their employees what they are owed. In the last year the enforcement teams have identified nearly £3.3 million in underpaid salaries, across the UK.
Publication of this list will remind both employers and workers of their rights and responsibilities.
As well as making work pay by introducing a minimum wage, we’re removing a big barrier to employment. I’ve met countless people who tell me that they’ve lost out because they were considered ‘too old’.
Age Discrimination legislation comes into force this month. This will make it illegal on the grounds of age to decide not to employ you, to dismiss you, to refuse to provide you with training, to deny you promotion, to give you adverse terms and conditions or to retire you.
Everyone should know about their rights to be treated fairly including their entitlement to the minimum wage and to stand up to employers who violate those rights. If your right to a minimum wage is not being granted then you can contact the National Minimum Wage Helpline on 0845 6000 678. Please get in contact with me if I can help you with this - or about any other matter you want to raise.
