Britons in East Yorkshire have raised concerns to GB News about new minimum wage and living wage rates which will come into play this year.
People’s Channel reporter Anna Riley spoke to Britons in Goole, East Yorkshire, where some feared the uptick was too paltry to convince those relying on Universal Credit to join the workforce.
But the pay boost was welcomed by some who told GB News “it’s better than nothing”.
One Yorkshireman told Anna in a furious rant: “It’s rubbish. What good is 76p? What does it buy? A third of a pint?”
“It’s about time businesses were self-sufficient. They should pay people enough money to live on without claiming benefits.
“The biggest group of benefits claimants in this country are people in work, which is ridiculous.
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“All the CEOs are on bumper salaries but they expect people to work for peanuts. The minimum wage should be about £25 an hour.”
His partner waded in to comment: “If it was decent, people wouldn’t have to claim Universal Credit, would they? It defeats the object. It’s slave labour.”
Another local commented: “It’s an improvement, but it’s not a lot. The cost of living is going up all the time and there’s food inflation.
“I think it’s going in the right direction but it’s not quite sufficient enough. We need it to be in the £13.50 region. Employers have to pass it on.”
Britons are concerned about the rising cost of living
GB NEWS
Jennifer told Anna that people “cannot keep up” with the rising costs involved in every day life, saying the minimum wage should be round £15 an hour.
One local spoke to Anna about surviving minimum wage, admitting “it’s a struggle”.
He added: “The cost of living, food and gas is all going up. Wages aren’t going up to reflect that. It’s a struggle.
“But obviously, it’s better than nothing.”
Rachel Reeves set out the plans in last year’s Budget
GB NEWS
The plans to increase wages were unveiled in October last year with over three million workers affected.
The National Living Wage will rise by 6.7 per cent, with a pay boost worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker.
The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year olds will also rise from £8.60 to £10.00 an hour – the largest increase in the rate on record.
