[UK] Online job boards found advertising salaried jobs below minimum wage

On August 21, the UK’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) warned that companies are advertising vacancies on major online job boards that pay below the minimum wage, TUC reports.

New research from the union body found 46 full-time jobs posted on the three sites - Reed, Indeed and CV-Library - on a single day in July that appear to pay below the National Living Wage.  

The union body reportedly believes this could be the tip of the iceberg, with dozens of non-compliant jobs posted on such boards every week. 

Now the TUC is calling on the UK government to crack down on minimum wage breaches as part of its commitment to a New Deal for Working People and to take robust action to ensure that those on internships are paid at least the national minimum wage. 

The National Living Wage has been set at £11.44 per hour since 1 April 2024. A full-time worker earning the current rate of National Living Wage should be paid a minimum annual salary of £20,820.20 for a full-time role of 35 hours per week. 

Workers aged under 21 can be paid lower rates of the minimum wage, however, advertising roles at lower rates potentially excludes older workers and could be unlawful due to indirect discrimination. 

Minimum wage abuses occur beyond contexts such as insecure or illegal employment. The Low Pay Commission estimates that 29 per cent of jobs paying at or below the minimum wage are salaried roles.  

Of the 46 jobs advertised that appear to pay below the minimum wage the TUC found: 

• 26 stated that experience is required, and a further 3 that experience is desirable 
• 7 stated requirements for qualifications, including professional certification and degree requirements 
• 10 advertised annual salaries, or starting points in salary ranges, that are less than £20,000. 

One ad for a graduate copywriter in Hampshire reportedly gave an annual salary range from £15,000 to £20,000. 

Another, for an assistant accountant with a minimum of two years’ experience, gave a salary range of £16,770 - £22,308. 

Paul Nowak - TUC General Secretary - said, “Nobody should be cheated out of the pay they are owed by their employer. But our research has found that lots of employers are advertising jobs at less than the legal minimum wage.  

“Workers are not the only victims. These pay cheats undercut all those good employers who do the right thing. And that creates unfair competition. 

“The new Fair Work Agency is a chance for the government to crack down on offenders and ensure all workers are paid at least the legal minimum.” 

Source: TUC

(Quote via original reporting)

On August 21, the UK’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) warned that companies are advertising vacancies on major online job boards that pay below the minimum wage, TUC reports.

New research from the union body found 46 full-time jobs posted on the three sites - Reed, Indeed and CV-Library - on a single day in July that appear to pay below the National Living Wage.  

The union body reportedly believes this could be the tip of the iceberg, with dozens of non-compliant jobs posted on such boards every week. 

Now the TUC is calling on the UK government to crack down on minimum wage breaches as part of its commitment to a New Deal for Working People and to take robust action to ensure that those on internships are paid at least the national minimum wage. 

The National Living Wage has been set at £11.44 per hour since 1 April 2024. A full-time worker earning the current rate of National Living Wage should be paid a minimum annual salary of £20,820.20 for a full-time role of 35 hours per week. 

Workers aged under 21 can be paid lower rates of the minimum wage, however, advertising roles at lower rates potentially excludes older workers and could be unlawful due to indirect discrimination. 

Minimum wage abuses occur beyond contexts such as insecure or illegal employment. The Low Pay Commission estimates that 29 per cent of jobs paying at or below the minimum wage are salaried roles.  

Of the 46 jobs advertised that appear to pay below the minimum wage the TUC found: 

• 26 stated that experience is required, and a further 3 that experience is desirable 
• 7 stated requirements for qualifications, including professional certification and degree requirements 
• 10 advertised annual salaries, or starting points in salary ranges, that are less than £20,000. 

One ad for a graduate copywriter in Hampshire reportedly gave an annual salary range from £15,000 to £20,000. 

Another, for an assistant accountant with a minimum of two years’ experience, gave a salary range of £16,770 - £22,308. 

Paul Nowak - TUC General Secretary - said, “Nobody should be cheated out of the pay they are owed by their employer. But our research has found that lots of employers are advertising jobs at less than the legal minimum wage.  

“Workers are not the only victims. These pay cheats undercut all those good employers who do the right thing. And that creates unfair competition. 

“The new Fair Work Agency is a chance for the government to crack down on offenders and ensure all workers are paid at least the legal minimum.” 

Source: TUC

(Quote via original reporting)