to think that the minimum wage should be higher in London

[bottlenecker]

I really do not understand how the national minimum wage can possibly be the same in London as the rest of the country. How on earth can anyone live on that minimum wage?

[StarGazeyPond]

Plenty of us do !

[SaucyJack]

YABU to think it's only in London where one couldn't live on the NMW.

[FushandChups]

YABU

[LaurieFairyCake]

The whole country should be on a living wage.

[MojitoMadness]

The minimum wage should be higher, full stop!

[wonderingsoul]

are only londoners allowed to have a living wage? are the rest us deemed not worthy enough?

you do realize things are expensive all over the place right?

[bottlenecker]

I don't disagree that is not a living wage but it is far more expensive to live in London.

People on salaries will get a London weighting but not the people who need it most. It's just wrong.

[hunreeeal]

YABU. This country is too London-centric as it is. Why should Londoners be paid more for doing the same work as everyone else? And eventually trade in their 2-bed London house for a 5-bed house in (place away from London) when those who've always lived in (place) were only paid enough to retire in a 2-bed house there?

[PissesGlitter]

OMG how entitled are you!!

[Feminine]

You are being unreasonable. We need a living wage for all. We need it to be high enough to tell the government where to stick their tax 'credit'

[bottlenecker]

Hunreeal

Someone on minimum wage is never going to be able to buy a house in London without financial help.

[bottlenecker]

Pissesglitter

Why am I entitled?

[Methe]

£6.31 is not enough for anyone to live on. Having a minimum wage that is so low that it's impossible to live without government subsidy is fucked up.

If you can't afford to live in London then move.

[therighttoshoes]

YABU people all over the UK struggle to live on minimum wage, there's nothing special about London

[hunreeeal]

Someone on minimum wage is never going to be able to buy a house in London without financial help.

Perhaps then, if they leave London they should pay it back.

[FloozeyLoozey]

The problem with raising the minimum wage is that companies will just employ fewer people. The economy is so complex, every solution always has a knock on effect.

[bottlenecker]

therighttoshoes

The fact that the minimum wage is too low everywhere is true but it there is something special about London. It's massively more expensive to live and work there.

[blackcurrentjuice]

I thought London didn't have a higher NMW but that most companies paid a generally increased wage to London employees.

I remember working with a company who published across the board pay rises. I got excited and thought I was getting a much higher wage until I'd figured out that it was just the employees in London stores getting that figure ( basic retail position).

Anyway yes NMW does need to be reviewed countrywide, as it's currently unsustainable to live on NMW without state top ups which is a disgrace.

[bottlenecker]

hunreeal
Pay what back?
Young people on minimum wage today in London are highly unlikely to own a 2 bed house that they can cash in and move out.
You seem to think that they can buy, I really don't know where you get that idea from.

[Methe]

There is nothing special about London. A house in Bristol or Oxford will cost you just as much as a house in London.

[Methe]

no-one on NMW can afford to buy a house.

[bottlenecker]

blackcurrentjuice
Some companies do pay London weighting but a cleaner/bar staff will be earning same minimum wage whether they live in London or not.

[Skina]

Nope, yanbu.

There might be 'nothing special' about London according to some, but it's more expensive to live here, rental wise. If London weighting is deemed necessary then it should be across the board.

[PercyDarling]

Hahaha, what an idiotic thing to say!
Why on earth are those of us outside London not entitled to the same?
Does a barista in London work harder than a barista in ???

[bottlenecker]

Methe
"This country is too London-centric as it is. Why should Londoners be paid more for doing the same work as everyone else? And eventually trade in their 2-bed London house for a 5-bed house in (place away from London) when those who've always lived in (place) were only paid enough to retire in a 2-bed house there?"

I agree people outside London can't buy too. I was simply replying to Hunreeal's post claiming above.

Although houses in Oxford/Bristol are not the same price as London.