National Minimum Wage

[OhmSweetOhm]

Just been on the DirectGov website there, and I find the NMW disgusting! The thought that an apprentice can be paid £2.60ph (the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship) is shocking. That means that if they're working a 40 hour week they'll be paid a mere £104 before tax. Barely pays the bills if you live alone, and it's a disgrace tha t people on the dole can get more than this for sitting on their arses not wanting to work.

Deep breaths.

I'm currently on the NMW myself for my age (£4.98ph) and work alongside people with less experience than me, less qualifications than me, and who my boss trusts less than me, yet they are being paid more than double my wage and why? Because I can't drive and because in my mind, my company sees age as a factor towards wage structure.

More deep breaths. Sorry for the rant, just had to get it out to see other peoples views on the matter. All thoughts and criticism will be welcomed and took into perspective!

 

[VoltzElectrical]

in my opinion, there is more than one way of being paid. Sure, wages are what most people think of as being paid in, but experience and knowledge are more valuable and worth more in the long run. This 'payment' will pay YOU back in the long run. You have to take the long view in this situation my friend.

 

[alarm man]

in my opinion, there is more than one way of being paid.

you aswell..

 

[robsparky1975]

To put it inti perspective,what you may earn now is a poor wage as said but think in 5 years time or less what you will be on,a lot more and maybe even start up on your own,there are some out there who have paid £1000s on short courses and are struggling with the practical/knowledge side of things,you have this under your belt already so the lack of wages is made better by what you are learning,part of being young is being skint,wait till you get a mortgage/married/sproggs etc then you can whinge like me lol.You have 40+ years to make your money so dont let the short term bother you just be happy that you are not sitting down watching daytime tv and are learning a lifelong skill that will pay you back in the long term.I used to get paid £50 a week when i was training as a computer engineer back in 97,that was no picnic either,got some good experience out of it and C&G qual,maybe have a quiet word with your guvnor see what he says,worth a go.

 

[kingeri]

I hear ya, I was paid £45p.w. back in 1998, but toughing it out taught me a lot of lessons, not just in sparking but also in life.

 

[TaffyDuck]

You should be paid what your worth, 1st year apprentices in my experience are worth £2.98p per hour, well some of them, some less. Shocking? Go stack shelves at Tesco`s if you want. Most 1st years need so much supervision that you loose a lot of productivity from experienced guys on site who have to babysit them, that its not financially viable so stop moaning and realise that they have an opportunity to learn and earn ( albeit a small amount). If they were at college doing a full time course they would be getting nothing.