Slavery of low pay

Whilst the Budget increases in public services, health, education and tax breaks are all welcome, there is an elephant in the room that no government seems willing to move.

That elephant is the minimum wage. It is difficult to get accurate figures, but it seems that around 250,000 workers are earning less than the recommended living wage of $20.20 an hour.

Even that figure is woefully low. At 40 hours a week, after tax, rent, travel, basic food, utilities and other essentials, that leaves a person with no spare money for enjoying their little free time whatsoever, not to mention caring for any dependants and children, forcing people to beg for government benefit assistance, thus lowering their self-esteem and adding to the mental health burden.

When are we going to stop subsidising low-paying employers in this way? It has been clearly demonstrated in countries that have introduced a proper living wage that it does not ‘‘cost jobs’’ – on the contrary – and the overall health of the population improves.

These ideas are still being seen as too far to the Left and radical for our Government to tackle, but if anything should be done when seriously considering the financial health of our country, then tackling the slavery of low wages should be it. MAREK PLESNER Napier