UNIONS called today for greater protections for the hundreds of thousands of furloughed low-paid workers who will miss out on the rise in the minimum wage.
The national living wage rose by 2.2 per cent to £8.91 today — or 19p an hour — which for the first time will see all of those aged 23 and over paid this as a minimum.
However younger workers will still be paid less, with apprentices paid as little as £4.30.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the small rise would be a “welcome boost,” making sure “the next generation isn’t left behind.”
But the government faced criticism for excluding those on furlough from the rate changes with many in key sectors, including retail and hospitality, remaining off work.
Labour’s shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds MP condemned the move, saying: “This is no April Fool — the Chancellor really has decided to hit the lowest paid furloughed workers with a pay freeze in the middle of a pandemic.
“Hitting Britain’s families in their pockets isn’t just wrong — it’s economically illiterate. If families have less money to spend, then businesses will suffer and the recovery will take longer. That’s the cost of the Conservatives.”
Union leaders insisted that those most economically vulnerable had been let down by the government.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Those expecting a decent pay increase today have been let down by the government’s decision to row back on the full rise they were promised.
“Ministers must get the minimum wage up to £10 an hour to stop millions of working people from living in poverty.”
Retail union Usdaw also said the paltry rise was not the wage increase promised by the government.
General secretary Paddy Lillis said: “Millions of low-paid workers have provided essential services to help ensure the country is fed, healthy and safe through the lockdown and will continue to do so.
“There needs to be lasting and fundamental change to the way society views workers.”
The government also faced calls for unions to be given more scope to hold rogue employers to account on wages.
GMB London said regulations should be changed to allow unions and workplace representatives to formally complain to HMRC about underpayment.
