Voxpop: Minimum wage high enough?

The national minimum wage has risen this month but remains lower than the living wage, according to a Government report. The recent wage increase was said to benefit Wales’ lowest paid workers.

The minimum wage in the UK rose from £6.31 to £6.50 in October 2014. {Photograph by www.iheartdaily.com]

The hourly adult rate rose in October 2014 from £6.31 to £6.50, but the average wage needed to live according to the Social Mobility Commission remains above this at £7.65 per hour.

Wales’ lowest paid workers are said to see nearly £355 a year benefits from the rise in the national minimum wage. [Photograph by Christopher Furlong, Getty Images]

Stephen Crabb, the secretary state for Wales said, “Thousands of the hardest working people across Wales will take home more money,” but for many this rise is not high enough.

A recent report from the Social Mobility Commission commented on Ed Milliband’s plans to increase wages to £8 by 2020, and said, “This is not particularly ambitious as it implies a slower increase rate than in previous years.”

We asked the public their opinions on the recent rise.

What is your opinion on the recent rise in the minimum wage?

Lara Sackville, 22, trainee counselor and waitress, Weymouth
“I think minimum wage should be £7 minimum as realistically £6.50 is not enough. You can’t even buy one meal from a shop with that to feed yourself, let alone a family. Minimum wage jobs are also very hard and strenuous work, which is unfair.”

Barbara Vaughan, 55, retired, Swansea
“I think it’s good, I mean every little helps. Its a 3% increase which is over twice the rate of inflation which shows the British economy is starting to recover from the recession.”

Anica Whitmore, 21, receptionist, Roath, Cardiff
“I think that it’s good because even though it’s only a small increase there are so many things to pay for daily that even an extra 19-pence an hour can make life a little easier for a lot of people.”

Bishan Mazumder, 28, dance instructor and restaurant manager, London
“I think that it is good people are getting paid more money for their hard work, but for some businesses that are struggling as it is to make ends meet, this pay rise could affect profits in a bad way and cause more problems than it solves.”

Ross Haynes, 23, Royal Air Force chef, Reading
“I didn’t even know it had gone up but it’s good that it has, but it should probably be more. Some jobs are much more hard work and stress than others and they are usually the lowest paid. Wages should be based on the work you are doing. “

Terry Bowden-Parry, 59, interior designer, Swansea
“I think it’s a good thing that minimum wage has risen and I hope that this forms a movement to lift the levels even further so that lower income families have a decent living wage.”

Hannah Williams, 28, cosmetics sales assistant, Weymouth
“A 19-pence increase is nowhere near enough when the cost of everything is going up. For me, it takes a three hour shift just to buy nappies and formula milk for my daughter. Thank god my husband earns a decent wage otherwise we would be in trouble.”

Christpoher Jones, 59, retired, Grangetown, Cardiff
“Well in my opinion the 19-pence rise is derisory for the one million or so people that the Government will say will benefit. It’s also insulting to the five million or so “walking poor” who are paid less than minimum wage.”

Have your say on Twitter and use the hashtag #nmw to join the debate.

Click here for the full report ‘State of the Nation 2014’ from the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.

For more information about the national minimum wage please follow this link: www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates