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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that £4.92 per hour is ridiculous?

149 replies

Chocolocolate · 03/01/2011 00:03

My DSil has recently completed her NVQ in childcare and works full time in a nursery.

She is 19. My DBro is 21. They pay all of their bills etc between them.

Their rent is £500 per month for a rubbishy little flat (although they have made it their own).

DSil told me over Christmas that she only gets paid £4.92 per hour - the national minimum wage for 19yos. AIBU to think this is very low? Not just for her - the national minimum wage is low.

Why is it less for a 19yo than a 21yo? They have all of the same responsibilities etc of an older couple.

If she wasn't with my DBro (who gets paid barely more than the national minimum wage himself) how could she afford a place to live?

They are both v. hardworking people, as are many who get national minimum wage, should this not be higher?

OP posts:
mamatomany · 03/01/2011 00:34

If she's really good she'll get pinched as a nanny with a bit of luck and she can still work with children for a reasonable salary and make a career of it.

mamatomany · 03/01/2011 00:35

They have all of the same responsibilities etc of an older couple.

I think that's the issue though, it's quite unusual these days for younger couples to be out on their own at that age. Not saying it's a bad thing but the majority would still be in education.

newwave · 03/01/2011 00:36

This is what the Tories are aiming for, low pay is their goal.

The minimum wage should be raised to at least £7-50 an hour and if the business cannot pay it then let if go to the wall, slave/poverty wages are not acceptable.

penguin73 · 03/01/2011 00:37

I disagree with the comment about degrees- unless you have a very specific degree needed for the job you are doing recent graduates with excellent, non-Mickey mouse degrees are, in many cases, earning little more than their non-graduate counterparts. Unfortunately that is the way that the employment market is working at the moment.

penguin73 · 03/01/2011 00:38

and the current pitiful minimum wage has been around longer than the current Government Newwave!

Glitterknickaz · 03/01/2011 00:42

YANBU.
Mind you, £2.24 an hour for being a carer isn't that great either...

Original poster
Chocolocolate · 03/01/2011 00:44

graduate or non-graduate - it still seems very low to me.

Most of my friends have graduated from uni within the past couple of years. It was quite difficult for some of them to find work but all had jobs by 6 months post graduation with the lowest earner on a starting wage of £14,500 - which everyone thought was low.

OP posts:
ohnoshedittant · 03/01/2011 00:45

Nursery Nurses are often really badly paid however old they are. She should look into nannying...money is far better and it's a nicer job imo!

DurhamDurham · 03/01/2011 00:45

It's not right to equate carers allowance to an hourly rate as it's an allowance not a wage. It's for those that are not paid to look after someone.

IWillCountToThree · 03/01/2011 00:45

It's generally because it's still education, a MA (modern apprentice) gets £90 a week before tax for around 40h pw in my local nursery. That's anyone below stage 3 and under 21.
The majority of U21s now still live at home, or are in further education. Therefore the Govt have said they don't need as much take home pay as people with a home/family to support.

Yes, it's crap. But the minimum wage for anyone over 21 is only around £7h, try bringing up a family on that.

adelvice · 03/01/2011 00:46

Pah! I was earning £5.05 at her age AND paying £400 rent plus bills on my own!

At the end of the day, she's 19 and getting paid a wage reflecting her (lack of) experience. In a few years time when she's gone straight from school to training up to NVQ Level 3 to working in a nursery for 5 years and she's head of the Foundation Stage or charging £8 (£24) an hour as a childminder for 3 different families, you'll both be looking back on this and laughing!

Original poster
Chocolocolate · 03/01/2011 00:46

Wow Glitterknickaz that is low. Are you an apprentice carer under 19?

OP posts:
newwave · 03/01/2011 00:48

A government minister has suggested that the minimum wage should "be left to wither on the vine" as it is a "barrier to business".

Also I wasn't defending Labours record although it is fair to point out the Tory scum opposed the introduction of the minimum wage

ninah · 03/01/2011 00:48

she's already level 3 read the thread!

Original poster
Chocolocolate · 03/01/2011 00:49

Ah, I see - a carer for a loved one, sorry.

IWillCountToThree apparently the national minimum wage for those over 21 is £5.93!

OP posts:
midlandsmumof4 · 03/01/2011 00:53

Unfortunately that's their downfall-they are very hardworking & very honest. Confused

montysorry · 03/01/2011 00:59

It's not a great wage but that's the problem with supply and demand. Lots of young girls with few academic qualifications go into childcare. The sheer quantity keeps wages low.

SecretNutellaFix · 03/01/2011 01:00

The minimum wage is nowhere near a living wage. I believe that a living wage is supposed to be around £7.60 an hour. I have been with the company I am with for 7 years and do lots of stuff that higher level staff do, often better than they can, and I am on £6.30 an hour. It is crap.

newwave · 03/01/2011 01:04

This is typical of the UK, no limit to bankers wages/bonuses yet they have caused A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS and by the same token the minimum wage is a "barrier to business".

montysorry · 03/01/2011 01:06

I teach 3 days a week and earn double what my TA does who works f/t.

She often does pretty close to what I do and holds the class together between my job share and I.

But then she has two Olevels and I have 3 Alevels a degree and a PGCE. I'm not suggesting I'm cleverer than her but I am more qualified. In a capitalist society this affects supply and demand and therefore influences salary.

ninah · 03/01/2011 01:09

dsil is 19! and sorted
by the the time she is 30 she'll be kicking all our butts
I predict

Niceguy2 · 03/01/2011 01:09

Just because OP's family are in a particular situation where the wage does not pay them enough to live the lifestyle they want, doesn't make it the fault of the minimum wage.

There are other people who may actually think that's a perfect job for them. For example, a recent school leaver who is living with their parents, just need a wage to go out at weekends. Back when my kids went in a nursery, this seemed to be the norm. Come Friday, all talk in the nursery was about going out round town. Fair play to them.

You simply can't set a MINIMUM wage to be so high. Otherwise we could just set it to £1000 per hour. Perfect! Poverty sorted!

The law of supply & demand will ensure that if the wage is too low that it doesn't get the nursery the staff it needs, it will have to raise its wage offer.

ninah · 03/01/2011 01:10

with all the yanbu riders of course

SantaClausImWorthIt · 03/01/2011 01:10

DS1 is working in a shop till he goes to university in the autumn. He's earning £6.73 an hour (and he's 18) - so it is possible to earn more. However, I doubt that the career prospects are great, whereas your DSIL, with her qualifications, could (I presume) expect to earn more in the future as she gains more experience?

BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree · 03/01/2011 01:11

"University graduates are earning the same minimum wage at the moment, if they are lucky."

No they're not - as most graduates will be over 21 and earning £5.70hr as opposed to the £4.92