Calrissian.com : Politics : Policy section : Employment

The UK worker of the 21'st century is very different to one of the previous century. Heavy industry is now largely automated, with the service sector, such as retail, customer service, and Finance, predominating the economy. However, working hours for the average UK worker are still relatively high, with the UK worker having fewer public holidays than almost all of their European counterparts.

Proposals

Minimum wage

The policy of a legal minimum wage should be supported.

Equality should be supported regarding this wage, as things stand the minimum wage varies according to age. Why should a 16 year old be legally entitled to less pay than someone older, even though they are performing the job just as well. Age discrimination is not acceptable, least of all via govt. policy. There should be no age bands at all.

Concept : 'Auto payment of basic amount to ALL 18+citizens'

Here is an idea, VERY off the wall in nature, but something to consider. The problem with the benefits system is one of administration. It costs the Dept of Employment hundreds of millions a year to process the millions of claims. There is a way to get around this though.

EVERYONE by default, gets paid the basic 'benefit' amount EVERY week, regardless of what their personal work status is. Each UK citizen would have an amount credited to an account (such as a bank) of their choice each week/month permanently.

Financially, this is how it would work for 2 people, one working, and one unemployed.

Working person : They earn £300 a week. The new policy would tax them £55 a week more, but they would receive a payment for £55.

non-working person : They earn £0 a week, and the govt. continue to send £55 a week into an account.

The point is that there is very little administration to do. Anyone who loses their job STILL has at least a basic state income to survive on. There is no need to fill out endless forms to claim this basic income.

Special note...

A few of you may be thinking 'huh, what the hell is he on about now ?'. The big problem with any government is the endless paperwork, and the tens of thousands of paper pushers necessary to run the an un-necessary bureaucracy.
My concept would solve a massive problem. People who are working would not see ANY difference in their net income. For people who are not working, there would be no need to apply for the basic state income - saving billions over a few years.

To me this seems such a simple idea, yet I've never heard it suggested by anyone. Or maybe I am thinking too far out of the box for anyone ?

Statutory Holidays

The average working hours in the UK are some of the highest in Europe. The UK worker receives few public holidays than most of their European counterparts - this should change. There is no reason why public holidays should not be increased from the miserly 8 to at least 12, and I would argue for 16 (with some 'double day' holidays around the xmas/Easter periods).

The UK workforce are one of the most productive in the world, yet it has been shown that countries with more public holidays show no noticeable drop in productivity levels. The UK populace deserve more public holidays, and should be raised from the current 8 statutory days, to at least 12 (preferably 16). The minimum wage policy should continue to be supported also, and the related age prejudice scraped.

The unemployment benefits system could do with a seriously rethink. The 'auto-payments to everyone' concept would cost little to implement, and would save billions over the course of a few years.

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