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GMB warns "Pay the rate for the job not the age of the worker"

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Date: 23rd March 2004

“3 TIER MINIMUM WAGE IS CONFUSING, COMPLICATED AND DISCRIMINATORY TO YOUNG PEOPLE”

The GMB, Britain’s General Union warned today that while the Minimum Wage is one of the greatest achievements of this Government, creating a three tier minimum wage system is confusing, complicated and discriminatory to people 21 and under who do the same jobs as those over 21 but getting 75p to £1.85 less an hour.

The Low Pay Commission confirmed their recommendations today which include:

• A new £3 minimum hourly rate for 16 and 17 year olds.
• From October the minimum wage will also:
  
• Rise from £4.50 to £4.85 for adults - an increase of eight per cent;
• Increase to £4.10 from £3.80 for 18 to 21 year olds.

GMB General Secretary Kevin Curran responding to the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations published today said:

“While we welcome the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations that 16 to 18 year olds should have a minimum wage to prevent employers exploiting them at work, creating a three tier minimum wage is confusing, complicated and discriminatory to young people.

“The GMB believes that employers should pay the rate for the job and not the age of the worker. Creating three tiers based on purely on age legitimises age discrimination by allowing companies to pay employees that do the same job different wages based purely on age.

“The GMB fears employers and workers will not understand this confusing system and it will lead to abuse and problems with enforcement.

“The Minimum Wage is one of the greatest achievements of this Government. We welcome the Commission’s commitment to the continuing rise of the minimum wage and we hope that current levels of increase will be maintained until the minimum wage becomes a truly minimum living wage.”