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Should Employers be able to Pay People with Learning Disabilities less than Minimum Wage?

From April, the minimum wage goes up to £7.05 an hour for 21 to 24-year-olds, and £7.50 an hour for workers over 24. The BBC reports that Rosa Monckton , who was a friend of Princess Diana, has called for people with learning disabilities to be able to work for below the minimum wage.

Writing in The Spectator, Mrs Monckton, whose youngest daughter has Down’s Syndrome, said that “the ratcheting up of the minimum wage was the single thing that made it most difficult to get people with learning disabilities into work, but raising the subject was considered “brutish and inhumane”. She argues for separate rules for people with learning disabilities saying “Services are closing, and day centres barely exist any more, so what lies ahead for people like my daughter? This is not about the right to a minimum wage, it is about the right to have the human dignity that comes with work, and with being included.”

Mencap the charity for people with a learning disability, disagreed that the main barrier to getting work was the minimum wage.

“Educating and working with employers to create the right roles was the most important factor, said Dan Scorer, head of policy.”

“With the right training and support, people with a learning disability can be valued employees whose work is of the same value as anyone else.”

He added that current employment support was “completely inadequate” and the government has a lot to do if it is to improve the “appallingly low levels of employment” of people with a learning disability.”

The trade union, Unison, insisted that no-one should get less than the minimum wage.

What do you think of Mrs Monckton’s calls to remove the legal obligation on employers to pay people with learning disabilities at least the minimum wage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Comments

  • Carolyn Bealby:

    16 Mar 2017 17:05:21

    Good idea if it doesnt affect benefits

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