Minimum wage (1 Viewer)

ccfc92

Well-Known Member
Just a quick one, just curious to know people's opinions on some political parties saying "We will up the MW to £10 an hour" (for example) etc?
 

Nick

Administrator
I can see why it's good for people working, but then for small businesses it might mean they have to put their prices up to cover it which then means they might struggle a bit more to compete with the big boys.
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
Don't think you can look at minimum wage in isolation of other policies. The problem we have is that there are record numbers of people in work who need benefits to survive. A lot of those are working for big companies such as Tesco who are making billions in profit.

Why should I be paying tax to essentially subsidise Tesco not paying people a wage they can afford to live on?
 

Nick

Administrator
looks good in principle but you could hike the minimum wage to £100 an hour, we'd just end up paying £15 a loaf of bread

That's the thing, have to work out how it will effect everything else.

The small family owned shop that's already competing with a local tesco having to put their prices up. not to mention their suppliers putting their prices up first for stuff being made, prices up for the minimum wage driver delivering it and then the profit at the shop.
 

trondegilsoltvedt97

Active Member
I concur. The more people are paid, then the higher the costs are for businesses. So the costs of products and services also go up. So the 'value' of the initial wage increase diminishes - and a new normal is re-established.
 

ccfc92

Well-Known Member
I can see why it's good for people working, but then for small businesses it might mean they have to put their prices up to cover it which then means they might struggle a bit more to compete with the big boys.

Connor Devine: looks good in principle but you could hike the minimum wage to £100 an hour, we'd just end up paying £15 a loaf of bread

Wow, the two first replies pretty much sum up my argument against parties trying to gain votes by using this strategy :)

I'm glad I'm not the only one who can see it.
 

ccfc92

Well-Known Member
Don't think you can look at minimum wage in isolation of other policies. The problem we have is that there are record numbers of people in work who need benefits to survive. A lot of those are working for big companies such as Tesco who are making billions in profit.

Why should I be paying tax to essentially subsidise Tesco not paying people a wage they can afford to live on?

It's like "tips" in America. You practically pay the waitresses wage in your not compulsory, but it's expected tip. America's min wage doesn't apply to some jobs, so waitresses can be on $3.50 an hour.
 

skybluejelly

Well-Known Member
It's the same as making small companies pay pensions .. all they will do is cut staff or hrs to make it affordable ... how are small cafes etc meant to make a profit if they charge £2 for a cup of tea which takes you half hour to drink ..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

ccfc92

Well-Known Member
It's the same as making small companies pay pensions .. all they will do is cut staff or hrs to make it affordable ... how are small cafes etc meant to make a profit if they charge £2 for a cup of tea which takes you half hour to drink ..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I see what you're saying, but don't the government help off set the pension scheme? (May be wrong)
 

Captain Dart

Well-Known Member
I see what you're saying, but don't the government help off set the pension scheme? (May be wrong)
Yeah, that is because they killed off the 2nd state pension, so they've pushed responsibility onto employers.
The much vaunted state pension increase of a few years ago was in reality a cut for most people.
 

ccfc92

Well-Known Member
Yeah, that is because they killed off the 2nd state pension, so they've pushed responsibility onto employers.
The much vaunted state pension increase of a few years ago was in reality a cut for most people.

But surely putting the onus on the employee to pay into their own pension, helps with an increasingly ageing population? A bit of what you put in now, helps you later on?
 

Nick

Administrator
Reminds me I need to look into a pension :( Probably won't ever live long enough to retire though if it keeps changing.
 

Martin84

Member
Let me tell you why this is bullshit. The min wage will increase which will be good for lower paid people. This is normally for the unskilled work force. You will then get the skilled wor force who will then want a bigger pay gap between them and the min wage as they have spent time going college, uni, higher education. So in time this wage will go up. Then what you will have if the price of living go up because we all have more money to spend. With the price of living going up the more money the min wage group will want more again and so on and so on. The circle will never end. If you want a larger wage go out and get better educated, work more hours, whatever the circumstances are you to change your situation
 

ccfc92

Well-Known Member
Let me tell you why this is bullshit. The min wage will increase which will be good for lower paid people. This is normally for the unskilled work force. You will then get the skilled wor force who will then want a bigger pay gap between them and the min wage as they have spent time going college, uni, higher education. So in time this wage will go up. Then what you will have if the price of living go up because we all have more money to spend. With the price of living going up the more money the min wage group will want more again and so on and so on. The circle will never end. If you want a larger wage go out and get better educated, work more hours, whatever the circumstances are you to change your situation

But at what point does it become not worth raising the minimum wage?

How many times have you heard "I used to be paid £8 a week" from older people, but the cost of living was a lot lower, so makes their point irrelevant.

There will always be poor people, comfortable people and rich people. The way to get rich is earn lots of money quickly, not wait for a minimum wage increase.
 

Earlsdon_Skyblue1

Well-Known Member
Any political party that have seemingly tried to win credit by making statements such as 'the minimum wage could be £10 by 2020' aren't doing so because they care. It's a load of shit.

Due to inflation etc, the value of £10 in four years time is likely to be completely different to what it is now. People will be equally poor, but politicians will try and distract the people the other way and make out they made a massive difference.
 

Seaside-Skyblue

Well-Known Member
I think kids should be taught how to use money wisely at schools. Some people claim they're poor when the truth is they're poor at resource management.
 

Marty

Well-Known Member
That is so true seaside skyblue. I earn a good living and so do the people I work with. Half of them have spent their wages before the end of the weekend. People 10 years older then me. 2 cars on finance. Designer clothes. Brand new phone every year yet complain they can't afford a deposit on a house.
 

mrtrench

Well-Known Member
Up to a point, Seaside Skyblue. If you were to use animals to do it some may escape - but I can see where you are coming from.
 

Sick Boy

Well-Known Member
I like the idea of a 'Basic Income' but it's probably a bit too progressive for where we are at now. ;)
 

Captain Dart

Well-Known Member
But surely putting the onus on the employee to pay into their own pension, helps with an increasingly ageing population? A bit of what you put in now, helps you later on?
I do not disagree with you that requirement is good practise, it does not however contradict my original point.
 

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