Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP
Gorgie Dalry Gazette (Minimum holiday entitlement increases from 20 to 28 days & minimum wage)
Under new proposals that I published this month, 400,000 workers in Scotland will benefit from increased workers’ holiday entitlement from 20 days per year to 28 days. That is 15% of Scotland’s overall workforce.
New research has shown that up to six million workers in Britain would benefit from an extra eight days holiday each year under the plans. The groups standing to benefit most from the changes are vulnerable workers including women, part-time workers, low-paid workers and workers from minority ethnic communities.
People work hard and deserve a decent break. We want to make sure everyone gets the holiday they are entitled to
These proposals will ensure that some of our most vulnerable workers will no longer be discriminated against when it comes to holidays.
The Department of Trade and Industry is launching a second public consultation on the implementation of the changes. Statutory annual leave entitlement would be increased in two stages, rising from 20 to 24 days on 1st October 2007 (pro rata for part-timers), and from 24 to 28 days on 1st October 2008.
Ten years ago it was perfectly legal for an employer to pay workers so little that they depended upon the benefits system to make ends meet. There was no Minimum Wage to protect workers from unscrupulous employers.
Today 1.2 million people benefit from the Minimum Wage. However, there are still some employers who are breaking the law by not paying the Minimum Wage. That’s why the Government has introduced a measure that will ensure that employers who don’t pay the Minimum Wage could face a fine of £200 for every worker they had underpaid. They already have to pay back the arrears of wages they owe.
I believe that people have the right to a decent minimum wage and we are determined that they get it. To those employers avoiding the Minimum Wage the message is if you don’t pay it then you’ll pay the fine.
It’s all part of making sure that there is fairness at work and that people are properly paid for what they do. We now need to move on to make sure that the minority of employers who don’t pay it are dealt with. If you want advice or have information in relation to people who are not paying the Minimum Wage then there is a helpline on 0845 6000678 which is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. All calls are taken in strict confidence.
The Minimum Wage is here and here to stay and has brought immense benefit. We now need to make sure that everyone who should benefit does benefit.
