Can the minimum be too much?
A POLICY letter proposing to increase the island’s minimum wage – three months ahead of schedule too – carries the feeling that it may cause fireworks in the States debating chamber.
The Committee for Employment & Social Security seems caught in a dilemma – on one hand responding to what it saw as clear indications from deputies in last year’s debate on the issue that the proposals did not go far enough to support those in receipt of low wages, the other being aware of concerns about the rising cost of living.
And the committee should also be more than aware of the views of a majority of the States a few weeks’ past over the introduction of secondary pensions – that it was not the time to burden cash-strapped individuals with another hit in the pocket.
Assessing political attitudes and appetite when this issue comes to the States in the next few weeks may be intriguing.
An increase in the minimum wage is being brought forward early – and, the committee argues, is ahead of inflation. However the committee is also rowing back on a commitment to equalise the minimum wages of under-18s with adults.
Will it be considered a good time to increase wages, at a point when the Chief Minister warns of the corrosive impact of inflation, while business cheerleader Lord Digby Jones urges politicians not to burden the generators of wealth?