Minimum wage

[tobyaw]

Yesterday the ONS reported a significant rise in the number of people out of work in UK. The government announced that the minimum wage is to get a modest increase in October.

With individuals and businesses suffering from the economic situation, wouldn't it make more sense for the minimum wage to be reduced when unemployment rises? The minimum wage should only rise when the economy is in good shape and unemployment is falling.

Comments

[purpletigron]

I can only see a justification for the minimum wage to fall if it has reached a level which has become comfortably over a basic threshold of decency, and then only if average and maximum wages have fallen further first. The needs of the significant minority for a basic 'enough' outweigh the needs of those with more.

[purpletigron]

Employed on a realistic living wage, yes.

Employees are an investment to be cultivated, not an expense to be minimised - savings should be sought elsewhere, perhaps even by altering the business model.