This includes details of what counts and does not count as pay and working hours for minimum wage purposes.
Government proposal to simplify and boost the national minimum wage for apprentices
8 October 2014
Business Secretary Vince Cable has outlined proposals to simplify and boost the national minimum wage for apprentices, making apprenticeships an even more financially attractive route for young people deciding whether to go into full time employment or to earn whilst they learn. Based on the current national minimum wage rates for 16 to 17 year olds, the proposal would give around 31,000 apprentices in the first year of their programme a pay rise of more than £1 an hour, rising from £2.73 to £3.79 per hour.
Applying the national minimum wage penalty on a per worker basis
3 November 2014
The Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) has issued a revised impact assessment on applying the financial penalty on a “per worker” basis.
This new BIS impact assessment concentrates just on businesses that are non-compliant with NMW legislation.
The original assessment showed an annual cost of £2.58 million to all businesses. The revised IA shows no cost to compliant businesses.
New 2015 Living Wage rates announced
5 November 2014
The UK Living Wage rate has been set at £7.85 per hour, an increase of 2.6% on the 2013 rate and 21% higher than the national minimum wage of £6.50 per hour; improving the take home pay of 35,000 low-paid workers across the country who are employed by over 1,000 Living Wage accredited organisations. The London Living Wage rate has been set at £9.15.
We are grateful to the Living Wage Foundation for their report .
Rhys Moore, Director, Living Wage Foundation said: “As the recovery continues it’s vital that the proceeds of growth are properly shared. It’s not enough to simply hope for the best. It will take concerted action by employers, government and civil society to raise the wages of the 5 million workers who earn less than the Living Wage. “The good news is that the number of accredited Living Wage employers has more than doubled this year – over 1,000 employers across the UK have signed up. In the last 12 months the number of Living Wage employers in the FSTE 100 has risen from four to 18 including Canary Wharf Group and Standard Life. “Those businesses that can should follow the example of Nestle and Nationwide, as well as hundreds of smaller, independent businesses like CTS Cleaning and Hodgson Sayers Roofing, who pay the Living Wage. Low pay costs the taxpayer money – firms that pay the minimum wage are seeing their workers’ pay topped up through the benefits system. So it’s right that we recognise and celebrate those employers who are voluntarily signing up to the higher Living Wage, and saving the taxpayer money in the process. The Living Wage is an
CIPP Policy News Journal
08/04/2015, Page 234 of 521
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker