Young activists in the UK made their voices heard in a peaceful protest on Saturday night when they took to the streets of Leeds and called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to invest in their future to prevent them from becoming the economic victims of the pandemic, Express reports.
Campaigner Alex Hutchinson told ITV news that he and fellow protesters are calling on MPs to put a stop to “bogus self-employment and zero-hour contracts”.
Mr Hutchinson added that the activists were also pushing for “an immediate increase of minimum wage to £12-an-hour which would lift millions of workers out of poverty, or on the brink of poverty”.
In addition to better job prospects, campaigners said they also want free education and for the government to write off all student debt.
Young workers have been hardest hit by rising unemployment over the last 18 months. Almost 80 per cent of jobs lost in the past year have been in the under 35 age group.
The Government, however, says youth unemployment is now falling.
It confirmed that the number of young people on company payrolls increased to 290,000 last quarter, a rise of more than 8 per cent.
A government spokesperson said, “As we push on with our recovery, we're continuing to provide young people across the country with the support and training they need to progress and earn more, bolstered by a National Living Wage now at its highest ever level.”
Last week, there were hints from the Government that a raise for British workers could be on the cards.
It is rumoured that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to announce a rise in the National Living Wage from £8.91 to £9.42 per hour over the next few weeks.
The rise would see the National Living Wage increase to £9.42 from its current rate of £8.91 but only for people aged over 23.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Sky News, "You should wait and see what Rishi does, we will do everything we can to look after people in the months ahead."
Whether or not an announcement is made in the coming weeks, the National Living wage won't actually increase until April 2022. Currently the National Living Wage stands at:
* £8.91 for 23 and over
* £8.36 for 21 to 22-year-olds
* £6.56 for those aged 18 to 20
* £4.62 for under 18s
* £4.30 for apprentices.
Source: Express
Young activists in the UK made their voices heard in a peaceful protest on Saturday night when they took to the streets of Leeds and called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to invest in their future to prevent them from becoming the economic victims of the pandemic, Express reports.
Campaigner Alex Hutchinson told ITV news that he and fellow protesters are calling on MPs to put a stop to “bogus self-employment and zero-hour contracts”.
Mr Hutchinson added that the activists were also pushing for “an immediate increase of minimum wage to £12-an-hour which would lift millions of workers out of poverty, or on the brink of poverty”.
In addition to better job prospects, campaigners said they also want free education and for the government to write off all student debt.
Young workers have been hardest hit by rising unemployment over the last 18 months. Almost 80 per cent of jobs lost in the past year have been in the under 35 age group.
The Government, however, says youth unemployment is now falling.
It confirmed that the number of young people on company payrolls increased to 290,000 last quarter, a rise of more than 8 per cent.
A government spokesperson said, “As we push on with our recovery, we're continuing to provide young people across the country with the support and training they need to progress and earn more, bolstered by a National Living Wage now at its highest ever level.”
Last week, there were hints from the Government that a raise for British workers could be on the cards.
It is rumoured that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to announce a rise in the National Living Wage from £8.91 to £9.42 per hour over the next few weeks.
The rise would see the National Living Wage increase to £9.42 from its current rate of £8.91 but only for people aged over 23.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Sky News, "You should wait and see what Rishi does, we will do everything we can to look after people in the months ahead."
Whether or not an announcement is made in the coming weeks, the National Living wage won't actually increase until April 2022. Currently the National Living Wage stands at:
* £8.91 for 23 and over
* £8.36 for 21 to 22-year-olds
* £6.56 for those aged 18 to 20
* £4.62 for under 18s
* £4.30 for apprentices.
Source: Express