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The One Show's been out onto the streets to find out whether anyone actually knows how much the National Minimum Wage is, ahead of its new increase.
The National Minimum Wage rises by 3.8% from £5.52 to £5.73 an hour for anyone over 22, on Wednesday 1st October 2008.
Could you live on the minimum wage? Are you living on the minimum wage? Are you an employer? Can you afford to pay it?
Comments
Dear one show
After looking at your article on the minimum wage i have noticed that you state the wage applies to 21 year olds and older however the HM customs site states this is for 22 year olds and older, can you please clarify the currect infrmation please.
Many thanks
Skaternic87
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Yes I could because it would be a lot more than a state Basic single persons pension.
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Hello, Skaternic87.
New National Minimum Wage rates from 1 October 2008. Workers aged 22 and over - £5.73 per hour. Workers aged 18-21 - £4.77 per hour. Workers aged 16-17 - £3.53 per hour.
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My lovely hardworking son is 17 today. He is an apprentice bricklayer. He earns £2.50 an hour. Because he is on a Government Approved Apprenticeship Scheme, he doesn't qualify for the minimum wage. This is a disgrace!
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Just watching the One Show now and I can't believe that four no doubt extremely well-paid individuals are sat pontificating about the poor souls who rely on the Minimum Wage - which frankly it isn't enough.
Maybe as a society we should re-appraise what people should earn - strating with getting rid of the appalling trend of TV programmes to create so-called celebrities who with little talent and virtually no effort earn megabucks.
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The minimum wage is better than the State Pension, be thankful for small mercies.
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Being a Pensioner I already live on less than the minimum wage.
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The BBC is showing a rather nasty bias. The debate about whether the minimum wage was affordable was held some years ago.
You resurrected John Redwood, showed him forecasting doom and gloom if a national minimum wage was introduced. We have a minimum wage the economy has not collapsed, it may be teetering on the brink of collapse right now but the minimum wage is not one of the causes of a possinle collapse.
I also find it hard to believe that a skilled mechanic is working for the minimum wage. They are in short supply across the country and all of your viewers know what garages charge for their services. The lad must have been unqualified or his boss is stiching him up.
regards
Gethink
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Try being living as a state pensioner! What interests me is that one of the first things they seem to worry about is whether they can afford to run a car. I sold my car when we got married, and we managed without one for a few years until we had saved up enough to buy an old banger (for (cash). We were married for about 15 years before we bought a TV.
The differential between low wage earners and high fliers is obscene, and often can't be justified.
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My daughter trained for two years to become a fully qualified Nursery Nurse. She adores her jiob and has been worrking ina private Day Nursery, caring for the children of doctors, teachers and solicitors for the last three years. She is twenty one and now earns the princely sum of £4.77 per hour! For this she works from 7.00am until 6.30pm, som etimes later if the mothers have had a busy day and are running late!
My nephew works at a supermarket stacking shelves and earns £7.00 per hour. How can this be right. Surely the care of our children should be worth more than putting tins of food on shelves?
My daughter adores her job and doesn't want to do anything else, but is she wants a home of her own she will have to look for better paid employment.
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Question for employers who are against the minimum wage . What percentage of your employees income do you think tax payers should pay through the benefit system?
Why should we have to so heavily subsidise bad employers?
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i must say im a little annoyed at the pension remarks... if you are living entirely off state pension (which, yes i know, is below minimum wage) you will not be paying your own rent or council tax..these are paid for through benefits (assuming you dont already own your home outright) and you also get a heating allowance. Those of us who just qualify for minimum wage.. at 22..and are renting get no help whatesoever with rent or council tax from the state. i can barely afford to eat most of the time...literally. ive been coming to work every day for 3 months in a suit with holes in as i cant afford to replace it. minimum wage just isnt enough!
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Minimum Wage
37 hours @ £5.73 is £212.01
Should Carer's Allowance be paid using the Mininum Wage hourly wage
Because at the moment it does not i.e.
based on £50.55 divided by 37 hours
works out as approx £1.36
plus additional £88.25 Income Support
less Carer's allowance which is £37.70
Carer's Allowance ........................£50.55
Income Support ...........................£37.70
Total.............................................£88.25
divide this by 37 hours £2.38 hourly difference of £3.35
How can the government make employers pay the minimum wage when they do not as people are aware an elderly person living in an old people's home cost the government more money then when they decided to live in their own home.
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With reference to comments 4 and 8. Our son has just completed his 3 year HGV apprenticeship, top of the class, best marks in 10 years, won a trophy too, He started on £1.98 per hour at age 16 and finished on £4.77 per hour at age 19 - minimum wage does not apply to apprenticeships.
The 'middle men' are making the money supposedly arranging the training and support for apprentices, but they are just creaming profit. In reality the employers could do themselves a favour organising training direct with colleges, saving money, which could then give the apprentices a better hourly rate.
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