‘Living wage: Steps needed to eradicate poverty’ – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan has said all jobs created with Invest NI support or public procurement contracts should be paid at the living wage.
The Sinn Féin MLA was making his comments as NICVA launched a report on the living wage.
Speaking to Newry Times, he explained, “For the first time, there are now more people in work who are living in poverty than those out of work.
“The casualisation of labour, through low pay, zero hour contracts, growing self-employment and under-employment, presents an ever-growing challenge to those of us concerned with the rights of working people.
“The introduction of a living wage would stimulate economic growth by increasing gross wages by £221 million, lead to the creation of 2,500 jobs and deliver a £1,300 annual pay rise for 173,000 low-paid workers.
“It would also lead to a reduced reliance on in-work benefits such as working tax credits and housing benefits and lead to increased productivity among workers,” he insisted.
The Sinn Féin representative said that there was a need to work collectively to eradicate poverty. “We need to work collectively to eradicate poverty traps. One of the first steps that need to be taken is that all jobs created with Invest NI support or through public procurement contracts should be paid at or above the living wage.”
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