First Minister Announces Minimum Wage Guarantee

First Minister Alex Salmond has today announced that an SNP Government in an independent Scotland will guarantee the minimum wage will keep up with the rising cost of living.

The SNP leader used his conference address to announce that with the powers of an independent Scotland, an SNP Government will establish a Fair Work Commission that will ensure that the minimum wage in Scotland rises by at least the rate of inflation.

The minimum wage has failed to rise in real terms for the 70,000 people in Scotland who receive it for almost a decade. Had the policy announced today been in place for the last five years it would have seen the lowest paid people in Scotland benefit to the tune of £675!

Commenting, the First Minister said:

“Work should pay but we must ensure work pays without reducing people to penury or despair.

“If elected, on independence - this Scottish Government will establish a Fair Work Commission.  

“The central pillar of our Fair Work Commission will be to set a minimum wage guarantee.

“This guarantee will ensure a minimum wage that rises – at the very least – in line with inflation.

“Never again will wages of the lowest paid in Scotland fail to keep up with the cost of living. 

“If this had been in force in the last five years – the lowest paid Scots would today be £675 better off.”