"The Conservatives may promise a significant increase in the national minimum wage as they try to dispel their image as the “party of the rich” and show that the benefits of economic recovery are being shared fairly. David Cameron is being urged by key advisers to boost the minimum wage amid growing evidence that low paid workers have seen their living standards decline because it has failed to keep pace with rising prices in recent years. The move would be a major U-turn by the Conservatives, who opposed Labour’s decision to bring in the minimum wage 15 years ago, warning it could cost up to 2m jobs. Policy Exchange, a think tank with close links to Mr Cameron, is to study how the £6.19 an hour minimum wage could be raised without forcing companies to shed jobs. One idea is to encourage firms to raise it by offering them lower national insurance payments in return." [34O]
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 10:32:15 +0000
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