National Minimum Wage hailed as a 'great success'

The Chairman of the Low Pay Commission and President and Vice-Chancellor of the Queens University, Professor Sir George Bain, has hailed the National minimum wage as a "great success".

Addressing representatives from the business, statutory and voluntary sectors at a business seminar on Low Pay, Sir George said: “The National Minimum Wage has been a great success, and many thousands of low paid workers in Northern Ireland have seen their pay go up as a result. To ensure this success continues, workers and employers need good information about the minimum wage. In helping to provide it, the Northern Ireland National Minimum Wage Helpline run by the Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, is doing a very important job.”

The adult rate of minimum wage was increased to £4.10 with effect from October 1, 2001.

The National Minimum Wage Helpline for Northern Ireland, on 0845 6500207, was launched by Sir George in September 2001, since then staff have dealt with hundreds of inquiries from both workers and employers on rights and responsibilities regarding the National Minimum Wage.

The Helpline has been responsible for identifying almost £30,000 of arrears in pay due to workers not receiving the correct rates of pay, benefiting 249 workers, with many cases pending.

Anne Condé, Information Officer for the Helpline, said: “It is very rewarding to help someone struggling on low wages assert their legal rights to a fair wage. We are delighted with the success of the Helpline but know that there are still large numbers of people not receiving the correct rates of pay.” (SP)