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Low paid Worker | 22.12.2007 11:25 | Workers' Movements | World
Shop a Scrooge this Christmas, says TUC
The TUC is today (Saturday) calling on the British public to 'Shop a Scrooge', and report unscrupulous bosses not paying the minimum wage this Christmas to the National Minimum Wage helpline - 0845 6000 678.
At least 145,000 workers who are eligible for the minimum wage are currently being underpaid. The TUC believes this exploitation is unacceptable at any time of the year, but particularly at Christmas when many people have even more financial pressures than normal.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'There should be no hiding place for bosses who are deliberately cheating their workers out of the minimum wage.
'If you know somebody who is not being paid the minimum wage, now is the time to help them. If you know a Scrooge employer who is not paying workers a decent wage for a fair day's work, now is the time to report them.
'The Government is putting more money into enforcing the minimum wage and increasing the penalties for rogue bosses underpaying their staff. We can all help to 'Shop a Scrooge' and bring justice to all those being abused by unscrupulous employers this Christmas.'
The following industries have a high concentration of low paid workers, where underpayment is most often found: hotels, restaurants, retail clothing and footwear manufacture, hairdressing, security, cleaning, social care and childcare.
The National Minimum Wage Inspectorate investigates all the complaints that they receive by phone, email or post from named workers. They also take anonymous complaints and complaints made by third parties, so it's possible to complain on behalf of friends or relatives, or for managers to complain about rip-off employers undercutting them.
CASE STUDIES
Lesley (name has been changed) a homeworker from Yorkshire told the TUC: 'I only get around £2-£3 an hour for my work, as I am paid by the number of items I complete - I get 60p for a pair of trousers, which retail at £12. It's impossible to make more than a few an hour, as they are complicated with pleats and tucks.'
Daniel (name has been changed) came from Poland to work in England and told the TUC: 'I really struggled to find work when I came here. I finally found a job in a small pizza shop. I didn't get a contract and was only being paid about £2-£3 an hour. I worked 70 hours a week without any breaks, and I wasn't allowed any holiday for 20 months. I told my employer I wanted my rights and he sacked me on the spot. I didn't know what to do or where to turn to for help, and I ended up homeless and living on the streets.'
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- In May the TUC launched a Commission on Vulnerable Employment to investigate the extent of workplace exploitation and consider improvements to the enforcement regime and legal protection available for vulnerable staff. Exploited workers can submit their experiences of working in the UK to www.vulnerableworkers.org.uk
- The TUC has looked at the minimum wage exemptions and used the wage data in the ONS Labour Force Survey to estimate how many are underpaid. This estimate tells us the minimum number of people who are underpaid. The true figure will be higher, since official surveys have a poor grip on the informal economy, which the TUC believes has grown in recent years.
- What is the minimum wage and who should get it?
The current minimum wage hourly rates are: Adults aged 22 and above -£5.52; 18-21 year olds - £4.60; 16-17 year olds - £3.40. Employers who provide accommodation can deduct £30.10 per week (or £4.30 per day). This is the only deduction allowed. The national minimum wage applies to 'workers', which is a legal term that includes employees, agency workers and the dependent self employed who are not really running their own businesses.
- Who is exempt? (ring helpline for full details)
The genuinely self-employed; company directors; some apprentices are exempt, as are some people on EU or UK Government sponsored training courses; students doing work experience as part of a higher education course; people living and working within the family, friends and neighbours; members of the armed forces; share fishermen; prisoners; volunteers and voluntary workers; religious and other communities.
- How to complain about under-payment of the minimum wage:
You can complain by phone, letter or online. National Minimum Wage Helpline: 0845 6000 678. Normal opening hours Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. All calls charged at local rates. Callers can be assisted in 30 different languages. Changed Christmas hours (normal hours days not stated): Monday 24 December, 9am-4pm; Tuesday 25 December, closed; Wednesday 26 December, closed; Monday 31 December, 9am-4pm; Tuesday 1 January - closed. You can also write to:National minimum Wage Enforcement Unit, BP7102, Northam House, Benton Park View, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE98 1ZZ. Or complain online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/nmw_complaint_form.pdf
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E:
ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk
The TUC is today (Saturday) calling on the British public to 'Shop a Scrooge', and report unscrupulous bosses not paying the minimum wage this Christmas to the National Minimum Wage helpline - 0845 6000 678.
At least 145,000 workers who are eligible for the minimum wage are currently being underpaid. The TUC believes this exploitation is unacceptable at any time of the year, but particularly at Christmas when many people have even more financial pressures than normal.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'There should be no hiding place for bosses who are deliberately cheating their workers out of the minimum wage.
'If you know somebody who is not being paid the minimum wage, now is the time to help them. If you know a Scrooge employer who is not paying workers a decent wage for a fair day's work, now is the time to report them.
'The Government is putting more money into enforcing the minimum wage and increasing the penalties for rogue bosses underpaying their staff. We can all help to 'Shop a Scrooge' and bring justice to all those being abused by unscrupulous employers this Christmas.'
The following industries have a high concentration of low paid workers, where underpayment is most often found: hotels, restaurants, retail clothing and footwear manufacture, hairdressing, security, cleaning, social care and childcare.
The National Minimum Wage Inspectorate investigates all the complaints that they receive by phone, email or post from named workers. They also take anonymous complaints and complaints made by third parties, so it's possible to complain on behalf of friends or relatives, or for managers to complain about rip-off employers undercutting them.
CASE STUDIES
Lesley (name has been changed) a homeworker from Yorkshire told the TUC: 'I only get around £2-£3 an hour for my work, as I am paid by the number of items I complete - I get 60p for a pair of trousers, which retail at £12. It's impossible to make more than a few an hour, as they are complicated with pleats and tucks.'
Daniel (name has been changed) came from Poland to work in England and told the TUC: 'I really struggled to find work when I came here. I finally found a job in a small pizza shop. I didn't get a contract and was only being paid about £2-£3 an hour. I worked 70 hours a week without any breaks, and I wasn't allowed any holiday for 20 months. I told my employer I wanted my rights and he sacked me on the spot. I didn't know what to do or where to turn to for help, and I ended up homeless and living on the streets.'
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- In May the TUC launched a Commission on Vulnerable Employment to investigate the extent of workplace exploitation and consider improvements to the enforcement regime and legal protection available for vulnerable staff. Exploited workers can submit their experiences of working in the UK to www.vulnerableworkers.org.uk
- The TUC has looked at the minimum wage exemptions and used the wage data in the ONS Labour Force Survey to estimate how many are underpaid. This estimate tells us the minimum number of people who are underpaid. The true figure will be higher, since official surveys have a poor grip on the informal economy, which the TUC believes has grown in recent years.
- What is the minimum wage and who should get it?
The current minimum wage hourly rates are: Adults aged 22 and above -£5.52; 18-21 year olds - £4.60; 16-17 year olds - £3.40. Employers who provide accommodation can deduct £30.10 per week (or £4.30 per day). This is the only deduction allowed. The national minimum wage applies to 'workers', which is a legal term that includes employees, agency workers and the dependent self employed who are not really running their own businesses.
- Who is exempt? (ring helpline for full details)
The genuinely self-employed; company directors; some apprentices are exempt, as are some people on EU or UK Government sponsored training courses; students doing work experience as part of a higher education course; people living and working within the family, friends and neighbours; members of the armed forces; share fishermen; prisoners; volunteers and voluntary workers; religious and other communities.
- How to complain about under-payment of the minimum wage:
You can complain by phone, letter or online. National Minimum Wage Helpline: 0845 6000 678. Normal opening hours Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. All calls charged at local rates. Callers can be assisted in 30 different languages. Changed Christmas hours (normal hours days not stated): Monday 24 December, 9am-4pm; Tuesday 25 December, closed; Wednesday 26 December, closed; Monday 31 December, 9am-4pm; Tuesday 1 January - closed. You can also write to:National minimum Wage Enforcement Unit, BP7102, Northam House, Benton Park View, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE98 1ZZ. Or complain online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/nmw_complaint_form.pdf - All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E:
ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk
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