Consultation - National Minimum Wage: special focus on
apprenticeship (UK)
Date published: 16
June 2009
Response due: 8
September 2009
Semta responses submitted: 7 September 2009
Summary
The Government has asked the Low Pay Commission to prepare a
further report on the National Minimum Wage by the end of February
2010. This year’s terms of reference ask the LPC again to
monitor and review the impact of the minimum wage, to make
recommendations on the rate for 2010 and, as appropriate for 2011.
Following the recommendations in its last Report, the Government
has also asked the LPC to consider the detailed arrangements for an
apprentice minimum wage.
Consultation on Apprentices
The LPC would welcome views and evidence on the following
questions:
- What is an appropriate rate for an apprentice minimum
wage?
- At what level(s) of apprenticeship should the apprentice wage
apply?
- Should the apprentice minimum wage vary by age, and if so,
how?
- Over what time period should the apprentice wage apply? Should
the wage vary over the duration of training (e.g. be staged between
years)?
- Should the apprentice wage apply on a weekly or hourly
basis?
- How should time spent training (either ‘on-the-job’ or
‘off-the-job’) rather than working be treated?
Next steps
Semta submitted a response based on its concerns that the
credibility of apprenticeships be maintained through a reasonable
minumum wage. The Low Pay Commission will provide a final
report and recommendation to government in February 2010.
Documents and Links
Semta
response
Letter from the Secretary to the Low Pay
Commission
Semta represents the views of our employers across government
and the media. If you are an employer in the science,
engineering, or manufacturing technology sectors we welcome your
views at policy@semta.org.uk
7 September 2009