Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has backed Labour’s calls for a minimum wage which people can genuinely live on.
Last week, Labour pledged to change the Low Pay Commission’s remit when next in Government, so that alongside median wages and economic conditions, the minimum wage will for the first time reflect the need for working people’s pay to at least cover the cost of living. This would be linked to median earnings, so that all workers benefit from growth.
The policy announcement comes as figures show that workers have faced more than a decade with no pay growth. Two-thirds of adults in poverty are in work, and this proportion has been rising over time.
Statutory National Minimum Wages are set by the Government based on recommendations from the Low Pay Commission (LPC). The Government sets the LPC a remit each year, with Labour committing to changing this remit so that the LPC would also be asked to set a minimum wage that covers the cost of living.
Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said:
“Under the Tories, working people are being left in poverty because of stagnating pay. Around 5 million people are paid below the real living wage, and there has been virtually no improvement on this figure in the last decade.
This needs to change. People across Denton and Reddish deserve a guaranteed Genuine Living Wage, one that gives working people the pay they deserve.”