Press Release 18 May 2005
LOW PAY COMMISSION VISIT TO NORTHERN IRELAND
Three Low Pay Commissioners will visit Derry and Coleraine on a fact-finding
visit about the National Minimum Wage on Thursday 19 May. Willy Brown,
Ian Hay and Paul Gates will meet employers and employees to find out
how the minimum wage has affected them.
Low Pay Commissioner Willy Brown said:
"The introduction of the minimum wage has helped low-paid
workers without damaging the economy. We welcome this opportunity
to exchange views with people in Derry and Colraine about how the
minimum wage is working. By talking first hand to the people affected
we gain a valuable insight which helps inform the work that we do.”
Notes to Editors
1. The Low Pay Commission is a statutory body whose role is to advise
the Government on the National Minimum Wage.
2. The Commission has produced six reports. These are available
from the Stationery Office Bookshops or the Commission’s website
at: http://www.lowpay.gov.uk
3. The members of the Low Pay Commission are:
Adair Turner (Chairman), Vice Chairman, Merrill Lynch Europe; Ian
Brinkley, TUC Chief Economist and Head of the TUC's Economic and
Social Affairs Department; Professor William Brown CBE, Professor
of Industrial Relations, University of Cambridge; John Cridland,
Deputy Director-General, CBI; Paul Gates OBE, Deputy General Secretary
of Community; Ian Hay OBE, Chairman, Food Trade Association Management;
Professor David Metcalf, Professor of Industrial Relations, London
School of Economics; Baroness Margaret Prosser OBE, Former Deputy
General Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union; and Angie
Risley, Human Resources Director, Whitbread PLC.
4. The national Minimum Wage for those over 21 is £4.85 per
hour. For those aged 18 to 21 or over 21 but in the first six months
of a new job with a new employer and receiving accredited training,
the rate is £4.10 per hour. The Government has accepted the
Commission’s recommendation that there should be further increases
to £5.05 and £4.25 from 1 October 2005. The minimum
wage for 16 and 17 year olds of £3.00 an hour will remain
the same in 2005.
Notes to Editors
1. The
Low Pay Commission is a statutory body whose role is to advise the
Government on the National Minimum Wage.
2. The
Commission has produced six reports.
These are available from the Stationery Office Bookshops
or the Commission’s website at: http://www.lowpay.gov.uk
3. The
members of the Low Pay Commission are:
Adair Turner (Chairman), Vice Chairman, Merrill Lynch Europe; Ian
Brinkley, TUC Chief Economist and Head of the TUC's Economic and
Social Affairs Department; Professor William Brown CBE, Professor
of Industrial Relations, University of Cambridge; John Cridland,
Deputy Director-General, CBI; Paul Gates OBE, Deputy General Secretary
of Community; Ian Hay OBE, Chairman, Food Trade Association Management;
Professor David Metcalf, Professor of Industrial Relations, London
School of Economics; Baroness Margaret Prosser OBE, Former Deputy
General Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union; and Angie
Risley, Board Member, Whitbread PLC.
Low Pay Commission
8th Floor
Oxford House
76 Oxford Street
London
W1D 1BS
Tel. 020 7467 7279
www.lowpay.gov.uk
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