Wed 01 / 02 / 12
Chamber of Commerce Asks Whether Minimum Wage is Dead
Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce is to stage its next ‘Big Debate’ on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012, on the motion ‘This house believes a voluntary living wage of £7.20/hr would be good for business in Brighton and Hove’.
The debate looks at the growing campaign to replace the national minimum wage with a noticeably higher ‘living wage’ and questions the business case for a living wage.
The idea of the living wage – which sets pay at a level based on what’s needed to provide a family with the essentials of life, rather than a statutory bare minimum – is not new but it’s only within the last year that it seems to have really taken off. In the words of David Cameron, “It is an idea whose time has come” and Brighton & Hove seems to be embracing it. The Green city council has introduced the living wage for council employees, several notable private sector employers, such as the Amex stadium, are also backing it, and it is being promoted by the introduction of a Brighton & Hove Living Wage Commission.
However, business generally doesn’t like regulation and many business sectors have a reputation of fighting for the right to set the lowest pay possible should they wish. Some businesses argue that they cannot be profitable if they pay above minimum wage, while others say that higher wages means fewer employees, adding to unemployment at a difficult time.
Yet the city’s Living Wage Commission is chaired by the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Julia Chanteray, herself a business owner. Julia said: “Some employers are reluctant to pay above the minimum wage, it’s true, but I strongly believe that the living wage is not only more equitable but make business sense for companies and for the business sector as a whole.”
The debate features Julia Chanteray and Ian Tew, Head of workplace, Europe at KPMG,speaking for the motion, while speaking against are Ben Ferrer, general manager of My Hotel Brighton, and Adam Brian, director and co-founder of Due South.
A number of eminent Brighton business leaders will also be speaking from the floor of the debate, which will take the traditional Oxford Union debating format. The chair of the debate will be Rob Shepherd, of the Brighton-based international press release agency Press Dispensary.
Debate chair Rob Shepherd said: “This is a debate that addresses perhaps the most fundamental aspect of employment: pay. Clearly it’s an emotive subject for employees but the question of minimum vs living wage is also a very live one for employers trying to get the best from both their staff and their bottom line. It covers morals and ethics as well as the business case. We advise an early booking for places as we expect a packed house. “
The debate takes place at City College, Pelham, Street, Brighton, on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012, 6:00-8:30 pm. Entry is free but tickets must be booked on the Chamber website at http://www.businessinbrighton.org.uk/event/the-big-debate. Early booking is recommended as the event is expected to be full.
The result of the debate, and any points raised, will then go forward to help shape policy on pay recommendations in Brighton & Hove.
About the living wage
The living wage is designed to allow every worker in the country to earn enough to provide their family with the essentials of life.
The Brighton & Hove Living Wage Commission promotes the idea of a £7.20/hr living wage, against the national minimum wage of £6.08 for workers over 21, or as low as £2.60 for first year apprentices*.
£7.20 (or £8.30 in London) is the national living wage recommended by the Living Wage Foundation**, which promotes the Living wage Campaign and provides accreditation for employers.
* http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TheNationalMinimumWage/DG_10027201
** http://www.livingwage.org.uk/
About Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce
Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce supports many businesses of all sizes and sectors across the city with services ranging from its popular twice-monthly breakfasts and monthly evening events to skills training and business support. It is also the voice of business in Brighton & Hove, representing its members on all the key local partnerships and initiatives, sitting on a variety of bodies and forums, and feeding local business issues into the City’s strategy developments.
About The Big Debate
The Big Debate is a regular feature of the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce calendar, taking place four times a year and seeking to tackle major business and policy issues within the city. The debates sit alongside the Chamber’s annual State of the City event, which takes place each summer and rounds up the present activities and future prospects for the city of Brighton & Hove.
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