We should celebrate the anniversary of the minimum wage by building on it

By Sam Tarry

In my opinion, the proudest achievement of our Labour Government has been the introduction of the National Minimum Wage. The tenth anniversary of the National Minimum Wage will be celebrated on the 1st April, it was an important moment for Britain as it ended the ‘super-exploitation’ of workers. This ‘super exploitation’ was not only tacitly accepted by the Tories but encouraged by watering down employment rights. It is the single biggest indicator that our party is the party of social justice and we must continue to push the agenda and extend the right to decent wages for all.

This agenda is forming a central part of my manifesto to become Chair of Young Labour. In it I advocate the following policies:

• Equalisation of the National Minimum Wage

Currently the Minimum Wage is set at different levels for different age groups, £3.53 per hour for all workers under the age of 18, £4.77 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive and £5.73 per hour for workers aged 22 years. The equalisation of the Minimum Wage is necessary for two reasons, firstly £3.53 per hour still amounts to exploitative levels of pay. Secondly, the staggered levels of minimum wage encourages employers to employ younger workers and creates an uneven playing field for those seeking work.

If we are to have wage differentials, they should be based first on maintaining human dignity, and secondly on merit. Age should not be a factor.

• Ensure that apprenticeships are all paid at the National Minimum Wage and apprentices are not exploited

Apprentices under age 19 do not currently qualify for the national minimum wage. The Government’s emphasis on apprenticeships must be accompanied with fair pay. The unacceptability of this loophole is demonstrated by the example of hairdressing apprentices being paid as little as £80 per week for a full 35 hour week. I will work with relevant Trade Unions to work towards ending the exploitation of apprentices.

• A national Young Labour campaign on the Living Wage

Perhaps most radically I advocate a living wage for all, set at different levels across the country according to the cost of living. Although the National Minimum Wage has ended ‘super exploitation’ it is unacceptable that there are around 1.4 million children living in households where at least one parent works, according to the IPPR. A living wage for all is the easiest and most just way to make work pay and reduce poverty.

If elected I will campaign on these issues by working with relevant Trade Unions, civil society groups and Young Labour Party members. Compass Youth have been at the forefront of the campaign on the issue of a living wage and have produced a step by step campaign toolkit to empower activists to launch their own living wage campaign.

By advocating bold campaigning positions based on issues of social justice I aim to rejuvenate Young Labour as an active and progressive force. By using innovative and modern campaigning techniques to advance bread and butter issues Young Labour will become a force to be reckoned with.