Submission to Low Pay Commission National Minimum Wage
Issued: February 2018
Summary
This submission brings relevant points on the cost of an acceptable minimum standard of living, the inadequacy of the current National Minimum Wage rate, and the Living Wage rate which sets a benchmark for an acceptable minimum earnings threshold, to the attention of the Low Pay Commission.
Regarding the appropriate rate of the National Minimum Wage, progressive steps towards ensuring the rate of pay is based on evidence and data and reflects the minimum needs and costs of individuals striving for an acceptable standard of living, are vital.
As such, the Low Pay Commission must set out a road map which sees the NMW rate moving toward an acceptable floor. The variation in recent rate increases fail to provide any certainty into the future for either workers or employers.