Magazine |
‘Freeze youth pay’ says CIPD

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has urged the Government to freeze the minimum wage for those under the age of 22 in an effort to combat high levels of youth unemployment.

In addition it is calling on ministers to cap the minimum wage rise for others to the 2010 rate of inflation.

The CIPD argues this is essential to help the country recover from the recession and help the one million plus 16-to-24-year-old so-called ‘NEETs’ (those not in education, employment or training).

John Philpott, the CIPD’s chief economic adviser, said: ‘Pay restraint is likely to be a feature of the year ahead as employers and employees continue to work together to minimise job losses. It is right that younger workers lucky enough to have jobs should play their collective part in helping maximise the chances for those who do not.’

The current minimum wage for 16- to17-year-olds, set last October, is £3.57 per hour. The minimum wage for 18-21-year-olds is £4.83 per hour and workers aged 22 or above must be paid at least £5.80.

07/01/10