Minimum wage debate (Do you think its fair)

[Deleted member 1235]

So I've been thinking about this for quite a while.

Do you think it's fair that someone should be paid less for doing the exact same job as someone else, just because of their age? I think it's bad and am considering writing to my MP about it.

In the UK there are 5 categories for minimum wage (Amounts per hour)

It goes up every year by around 10-20pence

Why is it that someone such as myself who is 21, only earns £7.70 despite being in my job for over 2 years now, but someone who joined only a few months ago automatically starts on a higher wage than me, despite being less qualified, simply because they are older?

From age 18+ in the UK, you can be responsible for paying all the things an adult would be expected to pay, such as bills, rent, (good old tv licence), council tax etc.

I just think it's unfair that I, along with many others are being discriminated based solely on our age. Before you start saying that older people need it more than younger, there are many in their early 20's who don't live with their parents, and have to pay their way in life.

What do you guys think, is it different in your country? Does everyone over 18 (or 21) get the same minimum wage or is it separated like in the UK.

Only really interested in the wages for 18+, because those under 18 can't use the excuse they have rent or utility bills to pay if they're not even legally old enough to be paying them.

 

[Zayne]

There are too many arguments for either side. Elders will claim their life skills have value which deserves higher pay, but youth will claim that we learn and adapt better to new environments/workplaces. Unfortunately, in the end, it's unlikely that we'll ever get fair pay when most of parliament is controlled by said elders.

 

[Moon The Goon]

I'm 17 and I get paid slightly over minimum wage for my work. I think I work pretty hard and do exactly the same as older people in the workplace and they get paid more for what they do. I don't mind getting minimum wage if I was charged child prices up to 18 years old but after 16 you have to pay adult prices so essentially I'm getting child wages and paying adult prices which I think is completely unfair. I have driving lessons, transport to college, social life to pay for with all these plans in the summer about going to festivals and it's so hard to save up for them.

From my experience its really hard to get a job whether it be at Tesco's, Sainsbury's or any other place because they all want full-time employees where I can only do part-time due to college this means I don't really have much choice as to whether I like what I am being paid or not because I really need the money.

I just think it's way to easy to exploit people with wages and when a below 18-year-old comes into a workplace its an instant cash grab for the boss. I just think the whole kind of system is fucked and needs to be acted upon.

 

[blobvis 2.0]

Or just ask for a pay raise...

 

[[Nig]Mr Mini]

I'm 21 currently and i work 40 hours a week on £10 an hour, when i first started as an apprentice 4 years ago i made £4! Most places will pay you what they think you're happy with! Chat with your boss and express yourself! I was on £8.50 until i spoke my mind and my boss gained a new level of respect and understood when i explain £7 quid wont afford my card + Bill + saving for a mortgage

 

[Puma]

haha norway doesnt even have a minimum wage but 16 yr olds can earn up to 13 pounds an hour!

crazy!

 

[Deleted member 4983]

Minimum wage is pretty unnecessary imo.
it just:

• Lower skilled people will have a harder time finding a job

Lower supply of jobs as people who's labour is worth only €10 an hour have to be paid more than they are making the business therefore the job will dissapear.

Arguably the people usually won't be fired, but they'll look for other ways, Automation

For example McDonalds replacing cashiers with kiosks.

• Welfare;

Nobody is going to work a job that pays less than welfare therefore most countries already have a "minimum wage"
There are countries that are the big stoopid though and they force people on welfare to work any jobs they can find.
Welfare system is a success for the socialist parties in Belgium because they do what they're intended to do;
Have a steady voter base who are locked in poverty

• Make it easier for people to start businesses

Simple rule of supply and demand:

1. More businesses: more demand for labour
2. Same supply of labour will increase prices for labour

 

[John Daymon]

In Sweden the system is simple; We don't have any minimum wages by law, companies make deals with unions within the country, that way the worker is protected with their minimum wage system, if you then get a job per say at 21, you get a paycheck that's pretty low for the first 6 months of your trial employment, where you're fine to be leaving the job at any time; after those 6 months you most often get a raise up to a stable paycheck, our system is the best. Fuck your laws

 

[Bnjemann]

Wait you're swedish I thought u were Swiss