C12 The National Minimum Wage

Composite of motion 33 and amendments, and motion 34

The National Minimum Wage has been a huge success, bringing legal protection for wages to millions of low-paid workers. It has been a key weapon in the Labour Government’s attack on exploitation at work and has been increased by over 60 per cent since it was first introduced in 1999.

Congress notes with concern recent Conservative Private Member’s Bill which attempts to undermine the National Minimum Wage framework by allowing companies and employees to opt out of the minimum wage. Congress is alarmed that the National Minimum Wage would be threatened by any future Conservative Government.

Congress believes that the inevitable consequence of an opt-out system would be, as has proved to be the case on the issue of the 48-hour week, unacceptable pressure on workers to forego their minimum wage entitlements and the undermining of the whole purpose of the legislation.

Congress reaffirms its support for a National Minimum Wage framework in the form of clear and unwaivable legal rights for workers and calls on the General Council to continue to campaign strongly on this issue.

Congress welcomes the establishing of Wage Concern, involving many affiliates, as a pressure group dedicated to fighting for the National Minimum Wage and opposing any attempts, such as the Tory private members bill, to dilute or undermine it.

The National Minimum Wage not only has to be defended from attack but improved and strengthened in the run up to the general election to demonstrate Labour’s continuing commitment to tackling low pay and exploitation in the workplace and Congress believes that ending child poverty and the National Minimum Wage are integrally linked.

Congress calls on the General Council to urge the Government to:

i)        vote down any private member bills undermining the National Minimum Wage

ii)      reaffirm its commitment to the tripartite Low Pay Commission

iii)    significantly increase the National Minimum Wage

iv)    widen its scope by introducing a National Minimum Wage for apprentices to include merchant navy trainee officers

v)      reduce the adult rate to age 18

vi)    continue to strengthen the enforcement mechanism

vii)  campaign for the National Minimum Wage to apply to all seafarers on UK and foreign registered ships operating on routes between ports in the UK and between ports in the UK and the European Union.

viii)            strengthen the Child Poverty Bill to ensure that fiscal and economic circumstances cannot be used as excuses for inaction on ending child poverty

ix)    adopt a clear programme for redistributing wealth focusing on ending child poverty.

Mover:   Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
Seconder:  Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union

Supporters:  National Union of Teachers, Nautilus International