The scope of HMRC inquiries are understood to be much wider. Academy scholar wages at Premier League and Football League clubs are set at £145 per week with an increase to £155 in the second year.
HMRC is understood to be investigating whether the number of hours a week that scholars spend training and playing games equates pro rata to the government minimum wage, set at £3.50 an hour for an apprentice. Scholars’ training programmes vary from club to club but HMRC has been speaking to Premier League and Football League clubs about time scholars spend travelling to play away games or staying overnight in hotels which counts as hours at work. The Premier League and Football League base the weekly scholar salary on a 40-hour week at the £3.50 rate. It has been a prerogative of both leagues that all scholars should be paid the same rate although once a player turns 17 they are able to sign a professional contract. The very best 17-year-olds in English football now command professional deals in the millions – despite many never having been part of their club’s first-team squad. As a response to HMRC inquiries, the Premier League will propose to raise the weekly wage to £165 for a first-year scholar and £175 for a second-year scholar to give the clubs a margin of error if boys are spending long periods travelling or away at tournaments. The League is eager that there is no question that boys are paid less than the minimum wage.
Back to Contents
CIPP survey on the LPC call for evidence on the impact of the NMW and NLW rates in 2017 13 June 2017
The CIPP Policy team has published a survey on the impact of the NLW and NMW rates for 2017.
The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is the independent body that monitors the impact of the minimum wage. They are seeking evidence of the impact of the most recent increases to inform thinking about future upratings.
The LPC undertakes consultation on the effects of the minimum wage each year along with opinions about future rates with a view to building the evidence base and providing recommendations to the Government. The Government decides whether to accept or reject the LPC’s recommendations.
To inform its response the CIPP’s Policy team has created a survey to collect member views.
We would be grateful if you could spare around 15 minutes to complete this survey which will close on 5 July 2017.
Back to Contents
The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
Policy News Journal
cipp.org.uk
Page 93 of 145
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker