BECTU Backs Minimum Wage Enforcement

There has been a call to aid enforcement of the national minimum wage (NMW) so that job advertisements in broadcasting and the performing arts comply with the law.
The proposal comes in BECTU's contribution to the Low Pay Commission's annual review of the impact of the NMW on the economy.
"We believe that it would be a significant step forward if job advertisements which offer clearly unlawful employment were brought within the scope of enforcement.
"We are happy to discuss in more detail how such an enforcement option might work in practice," said a statement from the leading broadcast union.
However, whilst the NMW is intended to deliver income protection to low earners, the union believes there is clear evidence that employment in the creative sector is blighted by employers - some high profile - who either exploit the over-supply of labour in the sector to underpay, or who break the law on the NMW by hiring people to work unpaid.
The BECTU statement explained: "Some mainstream employers in the media and entertainment industries offer pay levels pitched at or barely above the NMW for entry level positions, even when those positions involve challenging work.
"Others, including one of London's best know theatres, take advantage of entry-level competition to offer unpaid internships which in our view involve real work and should be paid."
Whilst the union's submission, written by Assistant General Secretary, Martin Spence, highlights the exploitation which can be present for those able to secure placements, also emphasised is the exclusion perpetuated by current weak enforcement of the law, disadvantaging young people who cannot afford to work for free.
BECTU has long argued that the authorities should tackle the misrepresentation in many job ads - a great many online - which lure job seekers into believing that rates are negotiable when the employer's intention is to encourage people either to work for free or on an expenses-only basis.
The union's submission also points to 'the UK's lax company law regime' which allows some low/micro budget film-makers to set up for short periods of time only to close down or wither, owing significant sums to freelance crew and suppliers.
"We realise that company law is not within the Low Pay Commission's remit, but we are bound to observe that its current state contributes to de facto low pay or no pay, whereby workers carry out work in good faith for rogue employers who fail to pay them and who avoid being held to account."
(BMcC/GK)