ONS data reflect effect of sharp rises in minimum wage since 2016 but confirm stagnation in average earnings
Highest-ever increase in voluntary ‘living wage’ brought forward because of cost of living crisis
Move comes as discounters and big grocers compete for distribution workers
Second increase this year shows pressures facing supermarkets
Low Pay Commission urges UK government to do more to prevent abuses that continue despite clampdown
The supermarket’s generally laudable position on ‘colleague’ pay glosses over the lowest-paid workers
Framework to set adequate salaries will assess prices of household items and promote collective bargaining
Supermarkets operating on razor-thin margins will note there is no hard evidence to show better pay improves productivity
Business leaders start to target more support towards lower-paid staff
Foundation that sets pay level for low paid workers says move due to the ‘unprecedented’ rate at which prices are rising
A British experiment ended up with companies accepting lower profits, charging more or cutting investment
Low Pay Commission finds uplift did not boost poorest workers’ incomes because of freezes and tapering of benefits as earnings rose
DFDS chief warns economics of running cross-Channel services becoming unsustainable
Staff shortages force UK grocers to increase hourly rates and find savings elsewhere
Failures not only harm workers but put good employers at risk of being undercut by bad ones
There are too many loopholes and grey areas that unscrupulous employers can exploit
Plus, UK investors push for supermarket pay rises and Goldman Sachs demands companies disclose GHG emissions
Contrary to 2008 crisis, governments are not shying away from increasing base pay but there are other tools
Businesses face nearly £2m in penalties after 12,000 workers were paid less than statutory entitlement
Uptake of voluntary minimum rate is increasing at the fastest rate in a decade, says charity
Pay floors are powerful tools but workers need decent conditions too
Chancellor to act on Low Pay Commission recommendation though full effect of changes questioned
Boris Johnson says worker shortages will end when low-pay immigration does, but commitment is not a strategy
UK government list is part of wider push to clamp down on abuses of workers’ rights
But Resolution Foundation report warns ministers to look beyond wage levels alone
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