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[jerry]

The "Im alright Jack" mentality of the government rears its head again with proposals to 1) get rid of the minimum wage and 2)introduce a length of service pre-requisite for access to the employment tribunal system. IMHO, re the first, the economic "argument" about companies being able to survive only by reducing labour costs in such a manner is not only morally wrong but also an economic lie when increase in benefits costs are taken into account. Certainly wage costs are a major element of any companies cost control but without their staff they could not operate and as such their staff should be valued.And why should some line their pockets off the backs of virtual slave labour. Re the second, whats length of service got to do with being treated either fairly or legally or not? Length of service may well affect any award made but surely it should not exclude workers access to  the tribunal system if appropriate in the first place. If you feel strongly enough about this please access the redtape challenge at: www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/employment-law

[Dishevelled Den]

Yes, I must admit to having more than a passing interest in this - and I do agree that there is a basic unfairness in how much of the current raft of industrial legislation is being interpreted and applied.

Like so much else in this country today, the bottom line is the godhead of business irrespective of the consequences for those whose labour enables the existence of any given business in the first place.

Then, what else can one expect from a system of government that's bought and paid for by lobbyists, wide-boys and crooked international 'business gurus'

[cem_devecioglu]

simple rule.. more lies, more profit..

[Rods2]

I'm afraid I agree with the scrapping of the minimum wage as it is a major cause of the large increase in youth unemployment. Do you take on an experienced worker at £6.20p/h or an inexperienced 19 year old who you have to train at £6.20p/h? I know who I would take on.

It is also contributor to 10 pubs shutting a week and many high street shops going, not to mention other low skilled jobs going abroad. People with families that have these low paid job will get what they live on topped up by working and child tax credits. Young people will have the chance of a job, real world skills and from this base hopefully higher wages.

The alternative is continued high and growing unemployment.

What the west has to face up to is that we have to compete with the Eastern European, Asian, South American and African economies, by dramatically reducing our cost base of property prices, energy costs, wages and very high taxes. It is going to be a very painful adjustment, but without it we will be another Greece and 3rd world country. We all have to start living within our means, governments and individuals. The west is going to have to reinvent itself, if it doesn't than the prediction is that in 20 years time the emerging economies will control 70% of global turnover and the west 30% a reverse of where we are now.

Software development is now very much a global business. I have lost work to South African and Indian companies in the last 12 months and cannot compete with my current cost base, hence, this is one of the reasons for my pending move to the Ukraine.

[albitz]

Its very unfortunate indeed,but in todays world,in reality, you are right Rod.If other countries arent doing it then it makes us uncompetitive.