SNP Campaign to End Pay Discrimination Against Young People

“Tories letting young people down with discriminatory minimum wage rates” say the SNP

SNP MP David Linden will lead a House of Commons debate today calling on the UK government to change the law to end pay discrimination against young people.

Under current UK legislation, younger workers can be paid lower wages - despite doing the same job. Since 1st April, workers over the age of 25 are entitled to a minimum wage of £7.83 an hour, while those aged 21 to 24 are only entitled to £7.38, 18 to 20 year olds are entitled to just £5.90, those under 18 are entitled to just £4.20, and apprentices can be paid as little as £3.70 an hour.

The 27-year-old MP for Glasgow East, who left school at the age of 16 and started work as an apprentice, is calling on the UK government to “stop discriminating against young people”, and urgently change the law to ensure that all workers are entitled to a real Living Wage – currently £8.75 in Scotland, £10.20 in London.

Image: SNP David Linden MP

Commenting, David Linden MP said:

“The UK government must stop discriminating against young people – and change the law to ensure that all workers are entitled to a real Living Wage.

“It is completely unacceptable that younger workers are being penalised just because of their age, and with no account being taken of their needs, responsibilities and living costs.

“The Tories are letting young people down by refusing to end this pay discrimination - with many workers losing out on thousands of pounds a year.

"If the UK government won’t change the law then it must devolve the powers so that the SNP Scottish Government can introduce a real Living Wage for all workers in Scotland.”

Image: Young Scottish workers need a better deal say SNP. 

ABC Note: Accoring to the DWP, between 2017 – 2022 the population aged 50 years and over will increase, whilst the younger population will decline; It is estimated that there will be an increase of 800,000 individuals aged 50-64 and a decline of 300,000 individuals aged 16-24.