Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley highlighted the rise in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) which came into effect on Friday the 6th of April.
The increase means a rise for 16-17 year olds from £4.05 to £4.20, from £5.60 to £5.90 for those aged 18 to 20 year olds, for 21 to 24 year olds it is a rise from £7.05 to £7.38 and for those over the age of 25 the NMW increases from £7.50 to £7.83.
It is an offence for an employer not to pay their employees the NMW.
Despite this rise, the NMW discriminates on the basis of age and still falls well short of the Living Wage – monitored and updated by the Poverty Alliance – which stands at £8.75 per hour.
Commenting, Angela said:
“If employers pay their staff minimum wage, they are legally obliged to update their records to reflect the rise.
“Despite some increase – however small – being welcome news, it is still appalling that the National Minimum Wage discriminates against young people and falls well short of the accredited living wage as defined by the Poverty Alliance.
“The UK Government are failing our young people by refusing to stop penalising workers on the basis of their age – taking no account of their needs, responsibilities and living costs.
“If the UK Government won’t change the law then they must devolve the powers to Holyrood so the Scottish Government can introduce a real Living Wage across the country.
“The Scottish Government are working hard to encourage employers to pay the real Living Wage, however whilst these powers remain in the hands of the Tories, pay equality will be hard to reach for many.”