Monday, October 29, 2012

LOW PAY

 Research by the consultants KPMG found that 4.82 million workers ( one of every five families ) have to survive on less than a living wage,currently £8.30 an hour in London and £7.20 in the rest of the country. The government has resisted campaigns to increase the current minimum wage of £6.19 to living wage levels.

Northern Ireland has the highest proportion of people earning below the living wage (24%), followed by Wales at 23%. The lowest proportion of sub-living wage earners are in London and the south-east, both at 16%. It found that at least 70% of cleaners, kitchen staff and waiters and waitresses are were paid less than the living wage.

41% of low paid workers surveyed said that their finances are worse now than they were just one month ago. Nearly half  expect their finances to be in a worse condition in a year's time than now, slightly more than the 43% of those earning above the living wage. And nearly a quarter  feel that their job security has worsened, compared with 16% of those earning above.

 All three main party leaders expressed support for the Living Wage campaign before the last election without committing to implementing it!

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