Are the Low Pay Commissioners visiting an area near you in 2018? 5 March 2018
The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has published details of their annual programme of visits which will allow them to hear directly from workers and businesses as to how their recommendations are working.
The planned visits will provide the opportunity for individuals to speak directly to the Commissioners and to influence a policy that affects millions of workers and their employers and engagers every year. Opinions and evidence gathered throughout these visits will feed in to the work programme that is necessary to support the recommendations, to Government, that the Commission will be making later in the year for the 2019 minimum wage rates.
25-26 April Kendall South Lakeland 23-24 May Barnstaple and North Devon 13-14 June Newry, Northern Ireland
13-14 June Perth, Scotland 4-5 July Anglesey, Wales 8-9 August Birmingham
No relevant discussion points would be excluded but during 2018 the Commissioners are keen to hear about:
How businesses have responded to rising wage costs from the NLW and NMW – has it led to higher wage bills, and what action have businesses taken in response? Has it affected employment levels, productivity, or other pay and benefits? What workers think of the rates and their employers’ reactions to minimum wage increases This year, the Commission has been asked to look at options for a minimum wage premium for non- guaranteed hours as part of the Government’s response to the Taylor review of modern working practices and they want to hear what businesses and workers think of this. Do you have ideas for alternatives means for tackling the issue of one-sided flexibility in work, which can be a source of insecurity for workers. A focus this year will be on the level and workings of the rates for workers aged under 25 – and the LPC want to hear about how these work in practice for employers and workers
If you would like to attend any of their meetings or indeed host a visit please email the Low Pay Commission at lpc@lowpay.gov.uk .
Full details are available at the LPC webpages on GOV.UK.
Back to Contents
Minimum wages - reputation and enforcement 7 March 2018
It is an important time to get involved and make sure you are compliant now with minimum wages, and have plans in place to adhere to changes going forward.
We have the requirement from April 2019 to include on payslips the number of hours worked by the employee for which they are being paid.
We also have the Low Pay Commission’s annual consultation on the levels of the National Minimum Wage rates, and this year they are also considering both the potential impact of a 'premium wage', for those hours that are not 'guaranteed', as well as alternative means for tackling the issue of ‘one sided flexibility’, which is some workers experiencing uncertain and unpredictable work schedules. We have to factor in the increase in minimum wage rates from 1 April this year and let's not forget the media who are 'all over it' when a company, especially a household name, is 'named and shamed' on GOV.UK for failing to pay the minimum wage. It is really important that you are confident with your minimum wage compliance and processes and even if you feel you are, a review is never a wasted exercise. Do have plans in place to deal with not only the definite changes going forward, but also the possible changes? We will keep you informed and hopefully you will get involved with us as consultation moves forward with the LPC.
The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
Policy News Journal
cipp.org.uk
Page 300 of 516
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker