"Ministers are thought to be considering a delay to plans to equalise the minimum wage between younger and older workers after warnings the pledge was fuelling youth unemployment. Labour promised to remove the discriminatory age bands in the minimum wage system, making it so older and younger workers are entitled to the same wage. However, fears that the higher cost of employing young people could put off firms from hiring them have pushed ministers to put the manifesto pledge under review, The Times reported."
"Minister's have insisted the government is still committed to the rise, but the BBC reported it could be delayed. It comes after fresh figures showed the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds surged to 16.1 per cent in the latest quarter the highest level since early 2015. A government source told the paper that the figures had strengthened the case for a rethink."
Ministers are considering delaying plans to equalise the minimum wage between younger and older workers after warnings that the pledge is fuelling youth unemployment. Labour pledged to remove discriminatory age bands so older and younger workers would receive the same wage. Concerns that higher costs of employing young people could deter firms from hiring have prompted a review of the manifesto commitment. Fresh figures show the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds rose to 16.1 percent, the highest since early 2015. A government source said the statistics strengthened the case for a rethink, while ministers have insisted the rise remains a commitment.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]