>>watch out for the 10% national minimum wage hike
>>THE ISSUES THAT MATTER, FROM THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
I don’t think any of you would disagree with the notion that shop staff deserve to be paid a fair amount for a fair day’s work. And that probably explains why retailers always look uncomfortable attacking the national minimum wage. But we need to remind ourselves that it’s not the concept that’s wrong, it’s the way it has been executed that has rightly enraged our industry.
Massive jumps in the national minimum wage have impacted all retailers although, inevitably, it has been the smaller operators who have felt the most pain in recent years. As we reported in our Top 50 survey report in February, retailers were having to lay off staff and close stores because they could not afford to foot the bill.
But the politicians don’t listen. Those of you who hoped the issue would be addressed sensibly by the main parties will have been disappointed when flicking through their manifestos to see they offer no words of comfort. In fact, Labour has rather cleverly used its manifesto as a way of sneaking out a commitment to another massive - 10% - hike in the national minimum wage between now and October 2006.
It seems bizarre to me that any party can commit to such a rise now - without knowing how the economy will be performing in 18 months’ time. But there you are; forewarned is forearmed, I suppose. Labour looks set to be re-elected, which means on this crucial business issue you need to be planning now for October 2006.
My only fear is that the consequences of this rash election pledge could be pretty dire.
Speaking of the need for people to receive fair pay for a fair day’s work leads me neatly onto the PayPoint saga, which has again reared its ugly head. The issue is the same as it was when we first raised the topic a couple of years ago: retailers know they are being ripped off, but PayPoint isn’t listening. At the time, we backed the efforts of leading retail groups to find a way of winning a better deal for their members. Alas, to no avail. I think it’s time these groups now put aside their commercial differences to develop their own system. That way they could take control of their own destiny. And, more importantly, their own margins.
politicians don’t listen
Fair pay is the point
>>THE ISSUES THAT MATTER, FROM THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
I don’t think any of you would disagree with the notion that shop staff deserve to be paid a fair amount for a fair day’s work. And that probably explains why retailers always look uncomfortable attacking the national minimum wage. But we need to remind ourselves that it’s not the concept that’s wrong, it’s the way it has been executed that has rightly enraged our industry.
Massive jumps in the national minimum wage have impacted all retailers although, inevitably, it has been the smaller operators who have felt the most pain in recent years. As we reported in our Top 50 survey report in February, retailers were having to lay off staff and close stores because they could not afford to foot the bill.
But the politicians don’t listen. Those of you who hoped the issue would be addressed sensibly by the main parties will have been disappointed when flicking through their manifestos to see they offer no words of comfort. In fact, Labour has rather cleverly used its manifesto as a way of sneaking out a commitment to another massive - 10% - hike in the national minimum wage between now and October 2006.
It seems bizarre to me that any party can commit to such a rise now - without knowing how the economy will be performing in 18 months’ time. But there you are; forewarned is forearmed, I suppose. Labour looks set to be re-elected, which means on this crucial business issue you need to be planning now for October 2006.
My only fear is that the consequences of this rash election pledge could be pretty dire.
Speaking of the need for people to receive fair pay for a fair day’s work leads me neatly onto the PayPoint saga, which has again reared its ugly head. The issue is the same as it was when we first raised the topic a couple of years ago: retailers know they are being ripped off, but PayPoint isn’t listening. At the time, we backed the efforts of leading retail groups to find a way of winning a better deal for their members. Alas, to no avail. I think it’s time these groups now put aside their commercial differences to develop their own system. That way they could take control of their own destiny. And, more importantly, their own margins.
politicians don’t listen
Fair pay is the point
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