Equal pay for equal work!

BYC actively campaigns for an equal National Minimum Wage for everyone aged over 16.

BYC believes that the current three level system discriminates against young people. It implies young people deserve lower rates of pay regardless of their skills or experience in the job.

We should be paid for the work we do, not because of our age when we do it.

Campaign to defend and improve the Minimum Wage today.

Take a stand today to protect and improve the wages of the lowest paid in British society by writing to your MP about the Minimum Wage.

Take part in BYC's online action to email your MP and ask them to commit in words to protecting the Minimum Wage over the next year and making it fair for young people.

The online action let's you send a template email to your MP in just a few clicks - all you need to know is your postcode.

Over 60% of 16-21 year olds work in low paying jobs compared with just 30% of all other age groups.

Approximately 117,000 young people aged 16 to 20 will be paid the Minimum Wage in 2009/2010.

In these tough economic times it is even more important to highlight the need to protect the million workers on the Minimum Wage, rather allowing politicians to act to undermine their pay. Please make sure you forward this campaign link to your friends.

What is the Minimum Wage?

The National Minimum Wage sets out the minimum hourly pay that employers can offer across the UK. The rates set are based on the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission. BYC will continue to lobby the Government and the Low Pay Commission until there is a fair equal National Minimum Wage for everyone over 16.

The current Minimum Wage are:

• adult rate for those aged 22 and over: £5.73 per hour
• the youth development rate for workers aged 18-21: £4.77 per hour
• young people (those older than school leaving age and younger than 18; you're under school leaving age until the end of summer term of the school year in which you turn 16): £3.53 per hour.

Make sure your employer is paying you enough by calculating your minimum wage pay rate or call the National Minimum Wage helpline on 0845 6000 678 (Open Monday-Friday 9-5pm)
 

Changes to the Minimum Wage rates from October 2009 and 21 year olds get full rate from 2010.

On the 12th May the Government announced the annual changes to the Minimum Wage rates which come into place in October 2009.

• The adult Minimum Wage rate will rise by 7p from October this year, to £5.80 an hour. 
• The adult rate currently applies to those aged 22 and over, but it was also announced that the adult rate will be extended to include 21 year olds from October 2010.
• The rate for 18 to 21 year olds will go up by 6p (to £4.83).
• The rate for 16 and 17 year olds will only increase by 4p (to £3.57).

BYC welcomes the rises in the National Minimum Wage rates and is pleased to see a step in the right direction by the Government and the Low Pay Commission by extending the adult rate of the National Minimum Wage to 21 year olds in October 2010. This is undoubtedly progress towards recognising that there should be equal pay for equal work irrespective of the age of the worker. However, we are very disappointed to note that the gap between adult workers and young workers has now grown even further, with the youngest workers only receiving a 4p increase. BYC believes all workers should be paid the current adult rate. Tim Coates, BYC Vice Chair (Campaigns and Communications).

The Low Pay Commission gave recommendations to the Government about these rates should be set in their 2009 report.

The report noted the effort BYC had made in calling for an equal National Minimum Wage:

The British Youth Council (BYC) campaigned for a minimum wage for everyone aged over 16 and submitted a petition of letters signed by around 1,800 young people calling for equal treatment under the minimum wage. The BYC said that the principle of age-related pay did not take into account that young people often have the same costs and responsibilities as those aged over 22. Low Pay Commission Report 2009, p.233.

The British Youth Council (BYC) highlighted the need to recognise that many young people aged under 22 work to support themselves. The BYC believes it is important that young workers are not stereotyped as working for pocket money and it should be taken into account that young people aged 16-21 often have the same costs and responsibilities as those aged over 22. Low Pay Commission Report 2009, p.133.

Get active in this campaign

1) If you feel strongly about this issue and would like to get involved why not join the BYC Online Action Network - a flexible way have your say and be heard.  

Previous campaigning activities included collecting a petition of 1800 letters calling for an equal Minimum Wage and and lobbying MPs on the 10th birthday of the Minimum Wage.

2) BYC is supporting the campaign to defend and improve the Minimum Wage in its 10th birthday year - get involved through http://www.minimumwage.org.uk/

For more information on the Equal National Minimum Wage campaign please drop us an email.