MESL & National Minimum Wage Inadequacy Submission to the Low Pay Commision
Issued: April 2015
Summary
The Low Pay Commission has been tasked with considering a range of factors regarding economic, employment and competitiveness issues in making their recommendations on the National Minimum Wage rate. While these factors are regarded as important, the VPSJ considers it vital that consideration also be given to the adequacy of the National Minimum Wage rate and the standard of living a minimum wage income enables. Without such a consideration the work of the Commission will have failed to acknowledge the worker’s right to an adequate wage.
The research by the VPSJ on Minimum Essential Budget Standards has repeatedly demonstrated the difficulty low income households face in affording a socially acceptable minimum standard of living.