CSSA's 'cautious welcome' to minimum wage rise
March 30th 2007

Responding to the announcement by the DTI, Andrew Large said: “The CSSA is pleased that the Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations for a 3% increase in the National Minimum Wage from October 2007. We believe that this is a realistic decision bearing in mind the current state of the economy and the lack of data on the impact of the October 2006 increase.

“We note that the Low Pay Commission is concerned that changes to the National Minimum Wage should be based on the latest available data, and we share that view. However, for cleaning contractors on long term contracts, more visibility is needed for future changes so that they can be incorporated into those contracts.”

“The CSSA supports the Low Pay Commission’s preliminary assessment that the increase in the National Minimum Wage for 2008 is again likely to be a cost of living level increase. This reflects both the substantial uplift in wages since the National Minimum Wage was introduced and the expected market conditions.”

“We will be examining the Low Pay Commission’s report in detail and the cleaning industry will continue to make a positive contribution to the debate on wage levels in then UK.”

Meanwhile The Transport and General Workers Union this month called for the London Living Wage of £7.30 to become the new national minimum wage. The union also said the DTI should take a harder line on employers found guilty of not paying the minimum wage as the only ‘penalty’ they face is repaying what they have cheated workers out of in the first place.

For further information, just  click here.

More articles from CSSA: