British Government Introduces Min. Wage for Young Workers ($5.40 vs $8.80)

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAY2OVJURD.html


British Government Introduces Minimum Wage for Young Workers
The Associated Press
Published: Mar 15, 2004

LONDON (AP) - The British government said Monday it will introduce a minimum wage of 3 pounds ($5.40) an hour for 16- and 17-year-old workers in October.

The government also said it will increase the minimum wage for adults to 4.85 pounds ($8.80) an hour from the current 4.50 pounds ($8.15) an hour.

The youth wage, for 18- to 21-year-olds, will rise to 4.10 pounds ($7.40) an hour from 3.80 pounds ($6.90).

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the increases were possible because the economic outlook was favorable and the labor market was robust. <snip>

[trogdor]

3 quid is still more than the US minimum...

...last set in 1997. I always wondered how folks managed on EastEnders (Britain's top-rated soap) with crap jobs like convenience store clerk (complete with ugly-as-sin uniforms), street sweeper, or barmaid at the Queen Vic. Now I know.

[AP]

2. The floor may be higher, but the average is still lower.

But that's all changing very rapidly.

Europe is becoming better while the US keeps devaluing labor and driving the US towards banana republic status.

[Ruby Romaine]

3. Bedsits& free health care, council housing, bicycles , mass transit

That's how they survived, Bedsits- 1 room you rent w/a coin meter for electricity.

[AP]

1. Passing econmic power down to the bottom--it's the core of liberalism

if you ask me.

[papau]

4. You just got an AMEN - At least from where I stand! :-)

:-)

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

5. May I second that with a (secular!) Hallelujah! nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. Wow, a Labour bone left in them? I'm surprised! (nt)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. How much TAXES does a minimum-wage worker pay? (nt)

[SoCalDem]

8. Young people in the UK have medical coverage

they have an excellent public transit system, and they have (hope they still have it ) free higher education.. They have a LOT more than their peers here..

a young person here needs a car (usually)..has no medical coverage , and can graduate college, owing $30K in debt..

It may not be a huge amoount to earn in the UK, but it beats what the $6 hr workers here face :(

[MrPrax]

11. But in the US...

you can buy a case of beer and a couple of decks of 'smokes' for next to nothing!!!

So a low minimum wage is like--um--better--um--cause that case of beer and those smokes might go up if business had to pay clerks more--um--like yeah...

America Rocks!!!
Go back to um...Russia...er...um North Korea
/sarcasm

(that's my best impression of a Freeper idiot!!!)

BTW...in Denmark the minimum wage is equivalent to 20 bucks!!! and last time I look they weren't too badly

[Festivito]

12. Health care is about $2/hr, so 8+ to 10+/hr.

I'm thinking health care, individual, reached $320 per month. Four weeks would be 160 hours or about $2/hour, full time, including for four weeks of vacation and holidays.

[T_i_B]

9. It's not introducing it

This is merely increasing it, which is still good though.

The minimum wage was a big winner for Blair in the 1997 general election. It was introduced soon after but I do remember at the time that one of the biggest things that got people voting Labour at the time was the minimum wage policy. The tories were opposed to the introduction of it and boy did they get stuffed as a result!

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. It's new for 16 and 17 year olds

and increased for 18-21, and the 21+ categories. Presumably it was possible to stuff 16 and 17 year olds before this if you were an unscrupulous employer.