Motion 62
Wage Parity for Young Workers
“That this Congress notes that:
- those under the age of 21 do not eat less, do not need to heat their homes less, and do not pay less rent than workers aged 21 and over;
- no major work has been carried out by the Scottish Government into wage disparity between young workers in Scotland since before the Covid pandemic;
- growing inequality and dwindling employment opportunities in full-time well-paid work have detrimentally impacted young workers across Scotland;
- while the increase to the youth minimum wage announced by the UK Government is welcome, we cannot accept anything less than full wage parity;
- after the Government’s latest announced rise, the minimum wage stands at:
- Under 18: £7.55
- 18 to 20: £10.00
- 21 and over: £12.21;
- apprentices are among those worst affected by age disparity. The current national minimum wage rate for an apprentice aged 16 to 19 is £6.40 per hour, alongside poor working conditions; and
- young workers, despite often carrying out the same level of labour as their colleagues, are underpaid and undervalued based on only their age.
“Congress calls on the STUC General Council to:
- produce a report into wage discrimination faced by young workers across Scotland; and
- lead a political campaign on the basis of equal pay for equal work, demanding that young people should not be forced into poverty at the start of their working lives.”
Mover: STUC Youth Conference
RSS