National Minimum Wage Legislation Debate

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Department: Department for Business and Trade

National Minimum Wage Legislation

Baroness Blower Excerpts
Thursday 21st March 2024

(9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Offord of Garvel Portrait Lord Offord of Garvel (Con)
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Obviously, that case is well known, and P&O was rightly named and shamed. I saw the article but I am not aware of the details of the case. However, I am very clear that we will check to make sure that P&O continues to act within the law.

Baroness Blower Portrait Baroness Blower (Lab)
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My Lords, in its day, the national minimum wage was indeed an achievement. However, does the Minister agree with me, and with the OECD and the ILO, that the best way to ensure that workers have sustainable good pay and conditions is through sectoral collective bargaining—for example, in the care sector?

Lord Offord of Garvel Portrait Lord Offord of Garvel (Con)
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I am sure we all agree on one thing: that we want our workforce in this country to be well paid and to increase their training and skills. Surely the best form of welfare we can give anybody is a good job.