Conference Notes:

1. The Government's recent announcement to raise the hourly rate of National Minimum Wage by 10p to £3.70 from December 2000, and the Development Rate (which applies to under 22s and trainees) by 20p to £3.20.
2. That on the basis that the NMW was introduced in April 1999, this represents an increase far below the Retail Price Index, let alone current wage inflation. Moreover, these rates are equivalent to the levels recommended by the Low Pay Commission to be implemented from July 2000 in their original recommendations.
3. The EU Social Chapter calls for member organisations to grant part time workers the same rights as full time workers.
4. Recent Government proposals to grant part time employees the rights of full time workers, explicitly excluding the 99% of part time workers in the UK (mostly women) who are not legally defined as an employee (i.e. do not have a contract of employment).

Conference Believes:

1. Employment rights are human rights and as such should be applied as universally as possible, while mindful of economic circumstances.
2. The NMW has had a beneficial effect on the lives of millions of UK workers and that the apocalyptic predictions of right wing economists about its introduction have been proven groundless.
3. The Government should show more faith in the NMW by raising the hourly rate at least in line with the RPI.
4. The Liberal Democrats were right to recognise and support the success of the NMW, and the Westminster Parliament should be in future responsible for setting UK wide minimum standards, including setting a National Minimum wage; although the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly, Greater London Assembly, regional chambers and any future English regional directly elected tier of government should be empowered to implement a "top up" on the hourly rate where they wish to do so.
5. The Government's proposals to give employment rights to part time "employees" rather than "workers" is against both the letter and spirit of the EU Social Chapter and was not called for by business.

Conference Calls For:

1. The National Minimum Wage to be annually increased at least in line with the Retail Price Index.
2. Regional chambers and all devolved assemblies and Parliaments within the UK to be empowered to introduce a "top up" on the hourly rate if they so wish.
3. All part time workers to be granted the same employment rights as full time workers.
4. The EU Social Chapter to be implemented into UK law in full.