21st May 2009
MINIMUM WAGE TO GO UP – AND TIPS DON’T COUNT
A rise in the minimum wage has been welcomed by Donna Hutton, local Labour Parliamentary Candidate, as being of real help to local people.
“Our Labour Government has announced [on 12/05/09] the National Minimum Wage will increase from October 2009. This will benefit around 1,300 low-paid workers in this constituency, from Colwyn Bay to Ruthin to Kinmel Bay,” said Ms Hutton.
“Labour introduced the National Minimum Wage ten years ago against Conservative opposition,” she continued. “They said it would cost the country millions of jobs, which shows they know little about the real world and how little they care about people on low incomes. Funny how they have changed their minds – for now!”
Ms Hutton added, “What is more, the Government also announced the minimum wage will be changed so that tips and service charges can no longer be used to make up staff pay. This is great news, since the tourism and service sector are major employers in Clwyd West constituency. “
Ms Hutton listed a number of other items of good news:
- The Government is giving extra support to help people back into work with skills and training.
- The rate of unemployment has not risen here in the two years to April, with an unchanged 4.1% claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance.
- Measures taken by the Government in the global recession have already saved 500,000 jobs.”
Concluding, Ms Hutton said, “You simply cannot cut your way out of a recession, as the Tories want - we need to grow our way out of it. So Labour is giving real support to all – not tax cuts for the few. Our Labour Government is bringing forward job creating investment when it is needed most – not cutting services in the middle of a recession, which is the Tory plan!”
ENDS.
FURTHER INFORMATION
- The minimum wage for adults will go up to £5.80 an hour from October
- Wales total helped = 54,000, so = c.1,300 for Clwyd West
- Extra support to help people back into work includes the Future Jobs Fund, which enables social enterprises in the UK to bid for funding to create thousands of jobs for young people
- Claimant Count Unemployment (number claiming JSA) April 2007 = 1,570 (4.1%); April 2009 = 1,603 (4.1%)