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Press Release 26 October 2000 LOW PAY COMMISSIONERS VISIT NEWCASTLE – THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE - WHAT NEXT? Low Pay Commissioners will visit Newcastle on a fact finding visit about the minimum wage on Friday 27 October. Paul Gates and Ian Hay will be meeting a local employer, unemployed people, those helping people find work to see how the minimum wage has affected them and people trying to ensure the minimum wage is enforced. The Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Secretary have asked the Commission to monitor the minimum wage and produce a report by July 2001. They will recommend whether there is a case for increasing the main wage rate and if so by how much. Paul Gates who as well as being a Commissioner is General Secretary of the Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades Union said: "The introduction of the minimum wage last year was a major development both for people on low pay and employers. We welcome the opportunity to listen to what people here in the North East have to say about how the minimum wage has affected them so far and whether it is time it was increased." They will meet unemployed people and advice workers at the Inwork Benefits Project which operates from the East End Resource Centre, the Tyne and Wear Citizens Advice Bureau and the National Minimum Wage Enforcement Team at Longbenton. Notes to Editors 1. The Low Pay Commission is a statutory body whose role is to advise the Government on the National Minimum Wage. 2. The Commission has produced four reports. These are available from the Stationery Office Bookshops or the Commission’s website at: http://www.lowpay.gov.uk 3. The members of the Low Pay Commission are: Adair Turner (Chairman), Vice Chairman, Merrill Lynch Holdings Ltd; Professor William Brown CBE, Professor of Industrial Relations, University of Cambridge; David Coats, Head, Economic and Social Affairs Department, Trades Union Congress; John Cridland, Deputy Director-General, Confederation of British Industry; Paul Gates OBE, General Secretary, National Union of Knitwear, Footwear and Apperal Trades; Ian Hay OBE, Chairman, Food Trade Association Management Professor David Metcalf, Professor of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics; Margaret Prosser OBE, Former Deputy General Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union; and Angie Risley, Human Resources Director, Whitbread PLC. 4. The National Minimum Wage for those over 21 is £4.50 per hour. For those aged 18 to 21 or over 21 but in the first six months of a new job with a new employer and receiving accredited training, the rate is £3.80 per hour. The Government has accepted the Commission's recommendation that subject to confirmation in early 2004 - there should be further increases to £4.85 and £4.10 from 1 October 2004. Low Pay Commission Elizabeth House 39 York Road London SE1 7NQ Tel. 020 7855 4553 | |
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