Poverty pay levels continued - We need action now!

The Isle of Man minimum wage increases from Monday next - if you can call it an increase - the level will still be below £8 an hour with 16-18 year old workers on less than £6.

Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly MHK who was away this week ironically swanning around the LABOUR Party conference says:

“The Department’s continued assessment of the minimum rates of pay is in line with the Programme for Government’s commitment to investigate the option of a living wage. The Department and Treasury will consider further a proposal to increase minimum wage year on year, to attain the level of the Manx living wage in the future.”

Skelly is effectively saying that some people DO NOT get a wage they can live on now. How can this be on an Island that has enjoyed unprecedented growth for four decades and only recently was trumpeting further ‘bright’ economic statistics. How do members of COMIN sleep easy knowing the misery some workers are consigned to.

Wage rates of £10 an hour would only give a worker £370 for a 37 hour week BEFORE DEDUCTIONS little enough to survive on given living costs on this Island.

The Isle of Man government are totally removed from reality they see utility firms charging extortionate rates and look away. They see people having to utilise food banks and look away. They know some children go to school hungry and look away. They tolerate poverty pay and look away.

This really is a government that has abandoned a section of its population.

People should not need charity to survive and the key to dignity in employment is a TRUE living wage!

Bernard Moffatt