Minimum wage 'must be raised' says TUC

Posted on 2 December 2008

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The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is to lobby the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to increase the national minimum wage from £5.73 to more than £6.10 an hour.

It wishes the changes to be implemented from next October, in order to provide employees – including agency temps – with the maximum remuneration levels the economy can afford.

According to the TUC, the adult rate should be payable to 21 year olds, rather than those turning 22.

General secretary Brendan Barber commented that the minimum wage had "never had any detrimental effect on the UK economy".

He said: "Everyone agrees that setting it at too high a rate would cost jobs, but people rarely consider the same is true of too low a rate."

Mr Barber added that a low minimum wage contributed to unnecessary poverty for many people on low wages.

Last month, Recruitment and Employment Confederation director of external affairs Tom Hadley said that the temporary jobs market was a good way for people in the UK to enter employment.

Category: Agency News

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