YOUR MP WRITES (From Worcester News)

YOUR MP WRITES

8:35am Thursday 31st July 2008 in

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THIS July marks 10 years since Labour voted to bring in the national minimum wage. I well remember the House of Commons sitting throughout the night in a battle to pass this legislation.

Looking back, I think this is one of Labour’s proudest achievements in government.

And we built on this by increasing the minimum wage and bringing in better safeguards at work, such as paid holidays and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers.

But what working people in Worcester want to know is how we make sure that all working people benefit from the improved standards which Labour has introduced.

When it came in 10 years ago, I remember people like David Cameron strongly opposed the national minimum wage.

The Tories said it would cost the country two million jobs. The reality is totally different.

An extra three million jobs have actually been created since then.

Nearly one million low-paid employees – two-thirds of them women – have benefited from the national minimum wage.

Contrast this with the Tory years when three million people were unemployed.

Labour is coming down hard on those people who don’t pay workers the minimum wage and there will be even tougher penalties for rogue employers who con staff. This is part of the Employment Bill, which is now before Parliament.

As your MP, I’ll be supporting this Bill and will vote for it.

I’m proud that while the Tories opposed the minimum wage and still criticise it, our Labour Government is taking steps to strengthen it – ensuring that working people know their rights and employers know their responsibilities.

I know this story contains a lot of numbers and statistics, and I try not to put too many in my articles.

But remember, behind every statistic is a life changed by having the opportunity to work and get on in life.