Low paid workers will next week tell members of the Low Pay Commission visiting Cornwall they must be bolder and raise the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
The Low Pay Commission is an independent body set up to advise the government on the impact of the NMW and next week two commissioners are in Cornwall.
The South West TUC is leading a delegation of low paid workers from around Cornwall to meeting the Commission. It will include low paid workers from the tourist industry, agency workers, care assistants, young worker representatives and migrant support workers. They will tell the Commission the county is one of the most expensive places to live in Britain, with the average annual earnings sitting at £20,997 (compared to £25,277 in England) and the average house costing more than nine times that (£191,000), compared to seven times the average annual wage in England (£164,800).
In addition, one in five (20%) of households in Cornwall is in fuel poverty, spending more than 10% of their income on fuel (compared to 12% of households in England), and the average household in Cornwall has higher than average costs including water and sewerage charges, costs of energy and transport fuels.
Add to this the rising costs of food, council tax and public transport, workers in Cornwall would welcome a rise in the NMW.
Nigel Costley, Regional Secretary of the South West TUC, said: 'The National Minimum Wage has been a huge success especially for low paid workers in Cornwall. The scare mongers who warned that it would cost jobs have been proved wrong. The Commission must not lose its nerve now and maintain the value of the legal limit.
'The real risk for the Cornish economy is that the squeeze on incomes will hit hard as people stop spending. If we are to win the fight against poverty pay, protect young people against exploitation and help stimulate demand in the economy the Low Pay Commission must be bolder next year.'
Press release (400 words) issued 7 Oct 2011
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