Employment Policy |
Index |
Sections |
Related Links |
The UK worker of the 21'st century
is very different to one of the previous century. Heavy industry is now largely
automated, with the service sector, such as retail, customer service, and Finance, predominating
the economy. However, working hours for the average UK worker are still relatively high,
with the UK
worker having fewer public holidays than almost all of their European counterparts.
Proposals
Minimum wage
The policy of a legal minimum wage should be supported.
Equality should be supported regarding this wage, as things stand the minimum
wage varies according to age. Why should a 16 year old be legally entitled to
less pay than someone older, even though they are performing the job just as
well. Age discrimination is not acceptable, least of all via govt. policy. There
should be no age bands at all.
Benefit issues.
Concept : 'Auto payment of basic amount to ALL 18+citizens'
Here is an idea, VERY off the wall in nature, but something to consider. The
problem with the benefits system is one of administration. It costs the Dept of
Employment hundreds of millions a year to process the millions of claims. There
is a way to get around this though.
EVERYONE by default, gets paid the basic 'benefit' amount EVERY week, regardless
of what their personal work status is. Each UK citizen would have an amount
credited to an account (such as a bank) of their choice each week/month
permanently.
Financially, this is how it would work for 2 people, one working, and one
unemployed.
Working person : They earn £300 a week. The new policy would tax them £55 a week
more, but they would receive a payment for £55.
non-working person : They earn £0 a week, and the govt. continue to send £55 a
week into an account.
The point is that there is very little administration to do. Anyone who loses
their job STILL has at least a basic state income to survive on. There is no
need to fill out endless forms to claim this basic income.
Special note... |
Statutory Holidays
The average working hours in the UK are some of the highest in Europe. The UK
worker receives few public holidays than most of their European counterparts -
this should change. There is no reason why public holidays should not be
increased from the miserly 8 to at least 12, and I would argue for 16 (with some
'double day' holidays around the xmas/Easter periods).
Dreaming of more days by the Coast ?
The UK workforce are one of the most productive in the world, yet it has been shown that countries with more public holidays show no noticeable drop in productivity levels. The UK populace deserve more public holidays, and should be raised from the current 8 statutory days, to at least 12 (preferably 16). The minimum wage policy should continue to be supported also, and the related age prejudice scraped.
The unemployment benefits system
could do with a seriously rethink. The 'auto-payments to everyone' concept would
cost little to implement, and would save billions over the course of a few
years.
Links
DTI: Working Time
Regulations : Useful reference guide.
Working Hours : A
personal perspective by Richard Bloomfield. Sums up the situation very well
indeed.
Return to
Political Home
Page last updated :
26/10/2005