Cómo introducir un sueldo mínimo a nivel nacional.

Abstract

The article deals with the introduction of the national minimum wage (NMW) in te United Kingdom. It describes the background to the debate, dealing with, among other things, development in collecti-ve bargaining policy, deregulation and the position of the political parties. It also touches on the changes that have occurred in the thinking of the TUC and the Labour Party. The establishment of the tripartite Low Pay Commission (LPC) and the way it has operated are described in some detail. Particular attention is paid to the procedure used by LPC to collate evidence, and especially to the official discussions with employers, trade unions and other groups. The article presents the main recommendations of the first two LPC reports and explains their impact on income distribution. A number of specific questions are looked at in some detail, including the problems of data availability, international comparisons, methodology, young people, the periodic adjustment of the minimun wage, and consequences for the trade unions.