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Press Release 30 October 1997 LOW PAY COMMISSION ON MINIMUM WAGE FACT FINDING TOUR OF NORTHERN IRELAND The Low Pay Commission, the independent body that will recommend to Government the initial rate for the National Minimum Wage, is in Northern Ireland today to gather information on the likely impact of the minimum wage in Northern Ireland. During the day the Commission will meet a wide range of people - employers, employees, voluntary organisations, low paid and unemployed people - to hear their views on what effect a national minimum wage might have on them. The Commission has already written to over 600 organisations. Today’s visit is the second of a series the Commission will make across the United Kingdom to meet people and gather the evidence they need on which to base their recommendations on the minimum wage to the Prime Minister. Professor George Bain, Chairman of the Low Pay Commission, said in Belfast today: “We have to recommend to the Prime Minister an initial rate for the minimum wage that will apply in every sector of the economy right across the United Kingdom. Therefore it is important that we visit all parts of the United Kingdom so we can find out what effect the minimum wage might have. “There are lots of theories about the minimum wage. What we must do is meet the people who it might affect and who really count - small businesses, shop keepers, workers and unemployed people - to find out their thoughts on the minimum wage. “Questions we will ask include: what should be included in the minimum wage - tips, bonuses, overtime? Should there be different rates for people between the ages of 16 - 25? What will the minimum wage mean for particular business and voluntary sectors? “No doubt we will hear a lot of different answers to these questions. Our job is to reach a recommendation that is acceptable to all.” Professor Bain thanked the various local organisations that helped plan today’s visit to Newry, Ballymena, Londonderry and Belfast. “We are extremely grateful for the assistance from Northern Ireland’s employer, employee and voluntary organisations. They have the local knowledge and contacts we need to make sure we meet the right people in Belfast, Newry, Ballymena and Londonderry. “Our recommendations to the Prime Minister must be based on having all the facts in front of us. Today’s visit to Northern Ireland is part of the important process to gather these facts.” In the morning separate groups of Commissioners will have meetings organised by the Confederation of Community Groups (Newry), the Services, Industrial, Professional Technical Union (Londonderry), the Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (Belfast) and the Training and Employment Agency (Ballymena). Commissioners will have lunch in Belfast with representatives from over 40 organisations. In the afternoon Commissioners will hear evidence from the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions, the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network and UNISON, Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action and the CBI. Notes to Editors The Low Pay Commission is an independent advisory body set up to recommend to the Prime Minister the initial level at which the National Minimum Wage might be set. The Commission was established in July 1997 following the Government’s announcement in the Queen’s speech in May 1997 to introduce legislation in the current session of Parliament for a National Minimum Wage. The National Minimum Wage Bill was published on 27 November. The Commission has been asked to make its recommendations by May 1998, following which it will be for the Government to make the final decision on the level of the national minimum wage. The terms of reference for the Commission were confirmed in September 1997. There are nine Commissioners, drawn from a range of employee, employer and academic backgrounds and chaired by Professor George Bain, Principal of the London Business School. All Commissioners are unpaid, and serve in an individual capacity and not as representatives of the organisation they work for. The Low Pay Commission has gathered evidence in Scotland and Northern Ireland and today’s visit is one of at least seven other country/regional visits also taking in Wales, South West England, the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside, the East Midlands and the West Midlands. Interested individuals and organisations that wish to submit written evidence to the Low Pay Commission on the National Minimum Wage should contact: Mrs Louise Elston, Low Pay Commission, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, LONDON SW1W 9SS. Tel: 020 7215 5888. Low Pay Commission Elizabeth House 39 York Road London SE1 7NQ Tel. 020 7855 4553 | |
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