Tory stance on minimum wage under assault
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt has criticised Conservative Party plans to freeze the minimum wage.
She said the Tories were content to stand by and let the pay guarantee “wither away”.
Labour has pledged to raise the adult minimum wage from £4.85 an hour to £5.05 in October and £5.35 in 2006.
Launching Labour’s workforce manifesto, which included provisions for more bank holidays, Ms Hewitt said Tory leader Michael Howard had always opposed the national minimum wage in principle.
“He said it was going to cost two million jobs. Although he is now saying that he will accept it, that is a pretty grudging acceptance,” she claimed.
“The fear that I have is that with the Conservatives, the minimum wage would be left to wither away. They don’t believe in it. There is no guarantee the minimum wage would ever rise under a Conservative government.”
Ms Hewitt said two million workers – currently forced to take bank holidays as part of their annual leave – would not do so under a third Labour term of office, noting workers could lose 10 days of their statutory four weeks’ paid leave under current law.
“Two million people will today have little reason to celebrate having Easter Monday off. They will be forced to take it as part of their annual four weeks’ paid leave,” Ms Hewitt said.
“If this happens for all eight bank holidays they lose over a week-and-a-half holiday each year. Not fair to them or their families.
“And this Labour government which gave everyone the right to paid holidays for the first time is determined to take action.
“A third term Labour government will help those still missing out by ensuring bank holidays come on top of the right to four weeks paid holiday.”
Meanwhile, a leaked Conservative campaign guide has been seized upon for claiming the £4.85 minimum wage was a poorly targeted device in the fight against poverty.
The guide says the Tories remain “alert” to the dangers that future rises in the minimum wage might create.
Last night, the Tories said they supported the minimum wage and any planned increases.
Stephen O’Brien, Conservative Trade and Industry Spokesman, slammed the “ludicrous” attempt by Ms Hewitt “to make something out of nothing”.
He said the Tories “categorically” backed the minimum wage.
“We have publicly backed the next increase, and have raised no objection to the indicated increase after that.
“Of course we shall remain alert to the dangers that future rises in the level might create for employment. That is being responsible. If Labour are saying the opposite, they are the ones with a problem.”
