NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE AND YOUNG WORKERS

That this House welcomes the rise in the national minimum wage in October 2007 to £5.52 an hour; notes however that the rate for 18 to 21 year olds is £4.60 an hour and the rate for 16 to 17 year olds is £3.40 an hour; notes that this means that young workers are paid 17 per cent. and 38 per cent. less respectively than the full adult national minimum wage whilst in many cases doing the same work; believes that some employers are using the different wage rates as an opportunity to use young workers as low-wage labour; congratulates UNITE (TGWU) on the lobby of Parliament organised by their young members on 31st October; believes that the Government should ensure full compliance by employers with the national minimum wage; and further calls on the Government to take steps to remove the age discrimination in the national minimum wage and establish one rate for all workers irrespective of age.