Retail trade union Usdaw has called for a minimum wage of at least £12 per hour, as a step towards £15 for all workers, and for an end to “rip-off” youth rates.
The comments were made in response to the Low Pay Commission (LPC) call for evidence that will help shape the recommendations it will make to the government about the new minimum wage rates, which are expected to come into force on 1 April 2024.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, said: “Before the cost-of-living crisis, Britain desperately needed a pay rise. Now, with inflation remaining in double figures for over a year, many workers are reaching breaking point.”
He added: “We are calling on the Low Pay Commission to be ambitious with their recommendation. Workers have faced a ‘perfect storm’ of price rises across a range of essentials, including food and fuel, which impacts every household.
“Regardless of whether inflation starts to drop, there is no sign of the pressure on working people easing, as wages continue to lag behind inflation, dragging living standards down. Lower income households in particular are vulnerable to price changes and this should be a consideration over and above headline inflation rates.”
