Minimum wage rise ‘won’t level up communities’

Commenting on the rumours that the Chancellor is set to raise the minimum wage, Gary Smith GMB General Secretary said:

“Let’s be clear about what the minimum wage is.

“It doesn’t lift people out of poverty, it is a statutory minimum for four age classifications and apprentices. And while it raises that minimum threshold the increase isn’t going to level-up workplaces and communities across our regions and nations.

“Tackling the growing understaffing crisis and the damage done by a decade of ruinous Tory cuts is going to require substantial increases across key areas of the economy – public services, social care, supply chain sectors, and app-based platforms.

“So, lifting the minimum wage merely represents a small step in a marathon of change if the government has any credible hopes of ending the low pay and insecure work which is so prevalent across our economy.”