Northern Ireland tops list of
scrooge bosses
Paddy Logue, a spokesperson for the Derry-based Campaign for Decent
Wages, has called for renewed efforts to have a minimum wage
established in Northern Ireland. Speaking at the AGM of the Campaign
he pointed out that "It is a sad reflection of the depressed state of
the local economy that the figure £4.29p considered a minimum
wage in London, would be considered generous by many local workers".
Paddy Logue's comments were reinforced by the publication of a
report published by the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Action Network
entitled 'All Work and Low Pay: the case for a statutory minimum wage
in Northern Ireland'. The report shows that one in four people in
Northern Ireland stand to get a pay rise if a minimum wage is
introduced. The report also shows that in Northern Ireland workers
earn on average 20% less than their British counterpart even though
some basic essentials, like electricity, cost more.
Indeed the report suggests that the north is significantly worse
off than Britain in many respects. For example, 25% of Northern
Ireland homes have an income of less than £125 a week compared
to just over 20% in England. Weekly earnings for men and women are
the lowest for any region of the UK.
