Skip to content
Magazine
Saturday, August 2, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
SUBSCRIBE

2 million in UK earning less than minimum wage

Sophia Akram by Sophia Akram
4 November 2020
in Belgium Business And Economy News, Features

London (Brussels Morning) Around two million employees are paid less than the national living wage in the UK, according to official figures.

The data, published by the Office for National Statistics, showed that furloughed low-paid workers were less likely to have their wages topped up by their employer.

It reveals the scale of the impact of the first lockdown and the government’s job retention scheme on the UK labour market.

The official statistics showed a 0.9 percent drop overall in wages in the year until April 2020, while average hours paid fell 1.5 percent.

However, a more granular look per sector showed some areas of work were more disproportionately affected.

Thirty-nine percent of workers in accommodation and food services, for instance, were furloughed compared to 11 percent across the board.

The ONS research also showed around half of those on £8.72 per hour or less were furloughed on reduced pay compared to five percent paid £15.87 per hour or more.

These two data points meant two million workers had fallen below the threshold of the legal national living wage in April after the first nationwide lockdown commenced in March.

“Young people and low-paid workers in customer-facing roles, such as hospitality and leisure, were hit hard during the first lockdown, and are likely to be hit hardest again during the coming lockdown too”, said Nye Cominetti, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation.

“Given the scale of the economic shock facing Britain, [the data] also confirms how much of a living standards lifeline the Job Retention Scheme is for millions of often low-paid staff”.

Cominetti also said that furloughing alone could not shield workers from the crisis.

“It’s a sobering reminder of just how important our wider social security safety net is – and why it should be strengthened, not cut back, next April, as the Covid-crisis continues into 2021”.

A second national lockdown will commence on Thursday for four weeks covering the whole of England, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland operating their own lockdown measures.

The government has extended its furlough scheme at 80 percent of wages until December.

Related News:

  • Spain ups minimum wage to 965 euro monthly in bid to close gender wage gap
  • VDL’s first State of the Union promises better health and an EU-wide minimum wage
  • A European minimum wage will protect workers and businesses
  • EU Council, EP reach agreement on minimum wage
Tags: Minimum wageUnited Kingdom
Next Post

‘Outsourcing lets the government avoid accountability’ — Siobhán McGuirk explains neoliberalism’s impact on asylum

Latest post

EU-elections-UK

EU elections: UK looks on from the “outside”

1 year ago
Galeries-Royales-Saint-Hubert

What Makes Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert an “Institution”?

1 year ago

Most Read

    Follow Brussels Morning
    Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

    Browse Important News

    Belgium News
    Brussels News
    Culture and Society News
    Economy News
    EU Institutions News
    European Commission News
    European Council News
    European Parliament News
    Europe News
    Health And Fitness News
    Southeast Europe News
    Sustainable Perspective
    World News
    Diplomacy News
    US Elections News

    About Us

    Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

    More Info

    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookies Policy

    Join Our Newsletter

    Brussels Morning Newspaper – All Rights Reserved © 2024

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Belgium News
      • Belgium Police News
      • Brussels News
    • Brussels Bubble
      • European Parliament News
      • European Commission News
      • European Council News
    • Wider Europe
      • Member States
    • World News
    • Business & Society
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Culture & Society
    • Policy Talks
      • Place de la Bourse
      • The Macro-Economist
      • Sustainable Perspective
      • Ambassador’s Corner
      • The American Angle
      • Southeast Europe
    • Print Magazine

    Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT