Protection for minimum wage workers on furlough

Early day motion 516, tabled 20 May 2020 by Richard Burgon (Labour). Signed by 21 members.

That this House is concerned that many workers earning the minimum wage are currently only receiving 80 per cent of their minimum wage salary under the Government’s furlough scheme; is concerned that workers are being expected to live on less than the state-declared minimum wage especially given that rents, bills and food prices have not fallen; is concerned that in the House on 12 May 2020, following a question calling for the introduction of a minimum wage floor to the furlough scheme, the Chancellor of the Exchequer responding by suggesting that workers could seek additional employment which for many is not possible during the covid-19 crisis; notes that women and Black, Asian and minority ethnic workers are more likely to be in lower-paid work; calls on the Government to put in place guarantees to ensure that no furloughed worker is forced to live on less than 100 per cent of the national minimum wage.

Signatures by party: Labour 14, Scottish National Party 3, DUP 1, Green 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.