Do you favour a European minimum wage? Why?

Question

The minimum wage varies by a factor of 1 to 4 between member states. Some argue that this is justified because of differing economic situations and stimulates Europe's economies. Others that it creates unfair competition between EU workers.

Would you be in favour of an EU-wide minimum wage? And what benefits or problems could such a policy bring?

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http://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-qT1KKPQoRKdVT4lowpJCljbFokkuIzI8?p=2713

Answer 1

At present you may feel that it is not necessary.But in the long run it is essential.When all the EU members target for common rate of inflation,it is essential cost should also be identical.If you want to have common inflation rate and wage rates differ,those countries which are having higher wage rates will suffer.Their products will be less competitive and it will have disastrous effect on the economy.Further common wage rate will stop migration of labour among the EU members.It will facilitate economic integration of members of EU.

The difficulty is in implementation.There will be resistance in countries where wage rates are at present high.Where wage rates are low,huge funds are required for increasing wage rates.There should be transition mechanism.Countries where wage rates are high should increase taxation(income-tax) and pool the funds to assist countries where wage rates are low to subsidise increasing wages.Or income tax rates in such countries have to be lowered.This mechanism should be continued till reasonable wage equation is achieved.

Answer 2

Yes, I would be in favour of a minimum wage which is the same for all EU member countries. This would be a sign of fairness and reduce the amount of economic migrants. Many of these do come to countries with higher wages and work there in very lowly jobs, even though they have higher qualifications from their own countries, but cannot find suitable positions there.

It does not look well on the EU when engineers and academics from poorer member states have to work as cleaners and kitchen helpers in richer states, in order to earn a decent living. This also is counter-productive for the EU as a whole, as it prevents the poorer and lesser developed member states from catching up with the more developed countries in the Union.



I do see the potential problem at the beginning, when many companies (and even the public sector) in the poorer states might not be able to cope easily with the new minimum wage.

For that reason I would suggest the introduction in a gradual way, with an absolute minimum for everyone, which then is raised over a number of years along a fixed scheme. The EU Commission should provide a certain amount of extra money (perhaps from the Structural Fund) for the poorer member states in order to make the introduction of the Europe-wide minimum wage more feasible and practical.

Answer 3

If it means me!, and all pensioners getting a basic pension of more than 85 pounds a week I am in a big favour of it. I take it that more money would be paid into the pension fund with higher wages. However no one PARTY seems concerned about us being paid under the poverty line,for a life time of contributions!

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As far as economics are concerned it is well justified . Most retail goods cost more in the poorer country's than they do in UK or the same.

We all use the same essential goods. why drag it out over many years causing hard ships to so many people. Just get on with it.

I say i`m in favour and give every one a level playing field.

In the beginning some would complain. I remember when we first got a minimum wage. It was the right thing to do then and is the right thing to do now.

Answer 4

It's a rubbish idea. Each country has a different population, different economies and different types of industry. The UK has a reasonably high manufacturing output, whereas France is largely agricultural.



You can not expect two completely different types of national industry to yield the same sort of growth, and therefore to have a set European minimum wage becomes unsustainable. Another point is that in Poland, companies could be forced to pay a wage they simply can not afford. On the flipside, what if the UK minimum wage was to be driven down? Not only would the difference between income and cost of living widely increase, but tax revenues would also fall which is to the detriment of public services. Do you raise taxes? No, because you push up the cost of living i.e. inflation further, which only serves to harm the economy.

Answer 5

A European minimum wage makes sense, then people can stay in their own towns for work and not all crowd into England although I really do not know why they go there as the wages are poor in England and there was no way I could manage on £5.50 per hour and I always had to work 2 or 3 jobs to achieve the kind of money I needed. I am not currently in England I have 2 jobs at the moment and I usually find working 2 jobs abroad usually gives me better income as the bills and food prices lower. But I definately think the minimum wage should be £10per hour as this buys so little. £2 per day bus fares and one cup of coffee at coffee republic is £2.99 I would have to work one hour to cover these very basic things.

Answer 6

No, the cost of living also varies by a similar factor. Applying a high minimum wage would be disastrous for poorer countries, and applying a low minimum wage would basically be the same as abolishing it in richer countries. Even within larger countries such as the UK, France, Germany and Italy, there are wide discrepancies in living costs between regions, so even a national minimum wage is difficult to set, never mind one for the whole EU.

Answer 7

One problem is the different cost of living in different countries, although Europe is gradually stifling all individualism between countries, there are still differences, and this will seriously destabalize that country's economy.



Lets use England for an example, the cost of living in this country is already almost prohibitively expensive, especially for those on a minimum wage. Our government needs to raise this now so we can basically afford to live, not that they will.



But if the European Union decided to bring in an 'average' wage for all countries (some of which are decidedly poorer than others, especially with Eastern Europe,) then this will keep this wage low or even lower it, and we will not be able to afford to live in this country. We barely can now.



What right does a superstate have to decide the fate of many soveriegn countries anyway? Hitler was defeated 60 years ago FOR A REASON!!!!

Answer 8

It isn't a bad idea in itself, the problem lies in the fact that the cost of living is a variable factor in every country. Basically, I'm saying it's impossible while there are irreconcilable differences as to what we pay for something within different member states.

I too defend the idea that minimum wages may be counter-productive in the sense that many people will tend to idleness since they know they've got the minimum and don't make any effort to improve their work. The disparity between states and their minimum wages implies a more or less fair competitiveness them. Some differences need to be kept unless the whole structure is changed, which would be difficult though feasible in a gradual manner.

Answer 9

I initially thought it was a stupid idea, but if there is a variance of 1 to 4...... It will be nowhere as flexible as minimum wages chosen by Governments themselves, but it will help in integrating Europe into a single economy. Most EU countries now use the euro, so why not a European wage? Furthermore, it will make business across Europe much easier if there is one wage (albeit a little variance), cutting down costs in bureaucracy and encouraging business by making things simpler. It will also mean that the minimum wage will be free from petty fighting between parties in national politics, allowing the right decision to be taken.

Answer 10

Look.If you have one economy but some states can compete by paying their employers less than a decent minimum wage the low wage workers in The wealthier European countries are going to suffer.It is unfair competition.

We shouldn't lower our social standards to that of Eastern Europe.They should elevate theirs to ours.

There is free traffic of products and services which means for example a Polish company with Polish workers can do a job in Belgium.No social competition.

If you don't have a unified minimum wage I reject a unified economy as well.The alternative is that decent European minimum wages come under pressure because employers can point to other regions in the Euro zone where they would be much cheaper of.

This is an example how Europeans feel the EU caters more to big business and companies than to the citizens..

Answer 11

Although I'm in favour of a minimum wage, I feel that the figure set should reflect the particular set of circumstances, for the relevant country's economic situation.



For example, to set a minimum wage that is realistic in Germany or Britain, would be inflationary in Romania or Greece.



If this is another step on the route to the equalisation of pay and conditions of workers throughout Europe, I am absolutely against it.



Trying to manipulate labour in Britain, to compete with those from poorer economies is redundant.



The ultimate example of this is trying to get a worker from Britain, to compete with a worker from China , who is going to work a whole month for pennies.



It's just not viable, and proves that the EU's policies have been hijacked by big business.



The EU should be using it's offices to find ways of improving the lives of it's citizens, but in the case of Britain, it seems hellbent on reducing the lives of it's citizens.

Answer 12

I think some of the other answerers have missed the point. We can keep our minimum wage £5.05- all the question says is should there be a minimum in addition to ours which would cover the EU say it was £3.50, it would raise standards in those countries without a minimum wage and reduce the unfair competition between those with high standards and those with low. .

Answer 13

I feel it would be inappropriate to install a Europe-wide minimum wage. I believe it is wrong to have one minimum wage for the whole of the UK even, as the cost of living is so much higher in London and the South East.



Minimum wage values should be set regionally and taking into consideration socioeconomic factors applicable to that particular member state. The minimum wage should be set a value that allows people to have a reasonable existance.



What would be the ramifications for businesses in less well off countries? If they were forced to pay a the same minumum wage to their staff, that would also afford a reasonable income to someone living in Britian, for example, I doubt they could afford it.

Answer 14

No. As many people have said, it is a stupid idea.



I believe that being part of the EU is ruining my country. Ive grown up observing it.



A European minimum wage would be unfair on the workers of the richer 'states'.

Answer 15

No - it's somewhat unfair between the regions of the UK, as basic costs vary so much.

But, in Europe, you really would be comparing "chalk & cheese"!

The concept is fine but the reality, for many years to come, is invalid.

To make it appropriate we need a United States(Countries) of Europe which I favour eventually - but many, equally understandably do not.

Answer 16

How can that be even considered, the economy of every country is different. So in the UK would our minimum wage be brought down in line to that of romania? Or would theirs go up to be the same as ours - and how could their country afford that?



Can we stop this new wave of communism, trying to spread the wealth across the continent. As a brit why do i think i am going to suffer becuase of it.

Answer 17

I favour a proper wage.



I hate the term 'minimum wage'. It's an unsult to every hard working man and woman out there.



What 'minimum wage' means to an employer is 'how little money can I get away with paying you to work hard for me'.



What it means to the poor employee is 'the best I can expect to get paid for working my backside off for Mr Exploitation'.



A minimum wage in any country equates to such a pathetic amount that, unless you work for more hours than actually exist in a week, you cannot survive on it.



As far as I'm concerned, they can shove the 'European Minimum Wage' as far up their tight posteriors as they can get it, because that's where it belongs.



Up the Revolution, I say.

Answer 18

The cost of living in the rest of Europe is way below that of the UK so the answer is a definite NO.



A minimum wage would mean that in Spain for example, people would be well paid whereas in UK we would be the poor relations.

Answer 19

Yet another daft idea, from the E.U politicians no doubt. The E.U politicians lounging around in Brussels wonder what to dream up net should keep their noses out of member state's business and appreciate the contributions that each state makes. I like French wine, Greek olives, Italian ham, Spanish Tapas, and English Cider and i don't want E.U politicians screwing it up.

Answer 20

The EU should be trade block with excellence in medical and engineering. Our workers should receive a ninimum wage of £15. Look China and the rest of the world want our products-they are luxury items whether they cost £1 or £3 is irrelevent. We can't compete with Chinese and Indian workers and if any1 says we should, please explain to how?



Please don't give me the gain productivity fallacy

Answer 21

That's a very bad idea - the standard of living is dofferent in each country. Kepp that well out of it. Leave our own constitutions to deal with minimum wage, don't bring it to Europe.



I am not going to have my wages changed to suit these new Easter European countries that are now coming in their thousands to th UK.

Answer 22

No.



I am in favour of minimum wages, but the cost of living varies too much in the EU.



An example is the cost of living in Poland. This seems to be far lower than in the UK. What would be a fair wage in Poland would be next to nothing in the UK. A wage set on UK standards would be uneconomic for Poland.



Each country does have differing economic situations, and yes, this does stimulate the economies in different ways. Instead of one wage to cover all the EU, each country should set one based on its own economic needs.

Answer 23

Yes, because the biggest problem in workplace at present time in the UK is the flood of workers coming in from the former Soviet Bloc (Poland, Czech Republic, Rumania, Latvia. Estonia etc.) where wages are much lower and the cost of living is lower than in the UK. This is not beneficial to the UK economy or the people. It means they take jobs off British workers because they are cheaper so putting British workers on unemployment benefit that we all have to pay for through our taxes, while the wages earned by the workers from the Soviet Bloc goes back into the economy of their own country, not into the UK economy so we lose out on all counts.

Answer 24

No. If it were set too low, then it would be incompatible with national legislation, which is not a position which is permitted within the EU. If it were set at the sort of level which obtains in western Europe, then it would introduce incalculable hardship in eastern European countries and drive many more millions of them westward. It's a non starter.

Answer 25

Yes a minimum wage is essential to stop people being exploited.



However whether I would favour a "European" minimum wage depends on how high it would be - if it would be lower than the current UK minimum wage then no. If higher then yes.



Plus when people in Poland and other former Eastern Bloc countries realised they could earn the same at home as they can in the UK they might stop migrating here in their thousands, freeing up a few jobs for British people and taking the strain off our public services in an already overcrowded country.

Answer 26

I would favour it, since it would be fair.

Example.

In the UK the wage is lets say £5 hour but in some other Europe country it's £10 a hour then that would be un fair to the people in UK.

Answer 27

A European minimum wage would be so low that it would only affect the poorest countries in the Union.



It is not a stupid idea, it would work, but the poorer countries (and Italy) would ignore the legislation anyway.



It would just be a waste of time and money and would not stop employers paying illegals peanuts as at present.

Answer 28

Impossible. so many kings and presidents. And the mafia will not agree too.

to stop the imigration to come to the riches countries like ingland,the immigrants schould earn and pay taxes like in they owner countries. than england will be empty of europeans immigrants.

I'm sorry about my spelling.

Answer 29

An EU-wide minimum wage would have to be low enough to be able to be workable in the member countries that have the poorer economies, which would then be bad news for the countries with strong economies and high living costs, such as Britain.



It's unworkable in my opinion.....much like the whole concept of the EU.

Answer 30

If all the prices were the same then maybe but not £5.50 around £10 basic wages then yes

Answer 31

where do you live? on that continent? in Britain?

don't you see there even now there are lots of

low budget working continental Europeans

who profit on one hand, lower other mens

tarifs by their willing more modest offers.

Who would stay in those eastern regions

there getting that low wages if same time

here they would get three, four or five times

the wages they are used to?

Answer 32

Because humankind is in the middle of it's first developmental phase having just discovered the cheap and reliable global transport of people and goods. Our primitive economic system is now scouring the world looking for "cheap" sources of manpower and materials. The costs of transportation and communication is now effectively near zero for large consignments. This leads to raw materials taken across the globe to cheap labour for manufacture and then across the globe to the most expensive markets. After the goods are artificially made obsolete by fashion or technical means they are then shipped for secondhand sale, scrap reclamation or disposal into the communities least able to cope with the problems. This criss-crossing of the globe is enormously wasteful of energy. Local markets are completely distorted. People who are creative and good with their hands are massively disenfranchised. In the first world manufacturing jobs are in decline, leaving people who's whole family history has been in making things having to adapt to jobs for which they are socially and perhaps genetically unsuited. In the third world workers have to work furiously for low wages and can only afford the goods they are making when they eventually return secondhand for disposal.



We rapidly need to move toward the harmonisation of markets, in addition to free trade we need equal wages for equal work. At first poorer workers would have a windfall if wages were harmonised. Then prices would rise to match, and the incentive to ship goods long distances would reduce.

Answer 33

IT IS PARAMOUNT TO HAVE A WIDE MINIMUM WAGE

WHY?

PROVIDES A DECENT LIVING STANDARD FOR THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS, HELPS MOBILITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY,

DESTROYS BARRIERS TO TRADE AND ELIMINATES PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION. THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS FOR ALL MEMBERS TO USE THE EURO AS THEIR CURRENCY SO COMPARISONS CAN BE MADE WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AND BENEFITS ARE SHARED BY ALL NOT JUST A FEW. SWEATSHOPS HAVE TO BE ELIMINATED AND WORKERS PROTECTED.

Answer 34

No.

Why should our economy be yoked to that of noodle farmers in inner Elbonia?



Your pro-Europe organisation has suckered Yahoo into fronting many pseudo-questions - IE, Euro-propaganda masquerading as a question - for you now, and each one has met with overwhelming derision and hostility, I know because I've kept track of them. When are you going to get the message and clear off back to Brussels?

Answer 35

Are you bananas??? That's a terribly stupid idea. Look at the problems in the US with their stupid minimum wage!

Answer 36

not a good idea really, especially as places like the uk have much higher prices than other areas of europe.



what you can buy for £6 in the uk could buy you a weeks shopping in some other areas.



but then again yes it would mean all the polish would have no reason to come over here. (no offence to polish)

Answer 37

your cousin is in the right look up human rights and employees rights under European employment laws she will win hands down good luck

Answer 38

the problem is not the min. wage but the economy if in Athens a coffee is twice the amount u pay for it in Venice how is it fair???

Answer 39

It's a really stupid idea living cost arent the same in each country. i think that David J. say was also true.

Answer 40

unless there is a euopean wide minimum wage it actually makes a mockery of our own minimum wage in the UK. in fact without it being european wide our own minimum wage actually works to drive the average british worker out of a job. and here's how......



At the minute one of my competitors is only employing polish workers because, she has found, they are willing to work for minimum wage, they are willing to do as much overtime as she asks of them and they work hard. The reason is fairly simple, it is a skilled blue coller job and eeven at minimum wage they are earning 2-3 times what they would be paid in Poland. This means that the british worker is losing jobs (because they wont do that sort of work for minimum wgae, ***** about management and dont want to work overtime).



We also lose jobs because we cannot compete with the polish factories turning out work with only 30% of the labour cost we have. So I cannot get the work because our non-european-wide minimum wage makes UK too expensive, and when we do win it, it's made by immigrant labour, not british workers.



a double whammy - YES YES YES we need a european wide minimum wage.

Answer 41

But the introduction of a "minimum wage" in Britain has driven DOWN average wages!....what is wrong with you?

Answer 42

Interesting. I think its fair to say if everyone has the same access to goods and services then none should be the slum country.

Answer 43

Yes I would favour it. It has a good logic in it compared to other country

Answer 44

NO. Its has never worked in the past. Which ever country you at . Now or the past. It only creates more distortion in the economy.

Answer 45

Yes! It might stop European scab labour coming into this country and undercutting our own people. I am retired so have no axe to grind

Answer 46

No. Minimum wage is a bad bad bad socialist idea.



If you give a man 10 to survive because he doesn't have a job you're drawing a line that he's not going to cross. No job position is possible under 10. Those who are not able to create wealth for 10 won't get a job ever (it's 20 or more actually).

Next thing you need is to support all of them by giving them something. Hopefully less than 10 but in fact most socialism are giving more on welfare than the minimum wage in some cases. As a consequence, workers on minimum wage wants to move to welfare and quit the job. Plus, the money you need has to come from the workers. You may rationalize that it's coming from the companies or the rich people or whatever. It's not true. Wealth comes from the work of the workers. All the rest are living from that wealth.

Most likely, to support the system, the minimum wage is going to go up killing more job positions. Meanwhile, people without jobs and no prospects loose skills, don't get new skills and are worth less in the market place.

Now you have job positions only above 15 and people with the skills to work for 5. A problem with no solution.

The market place always finds a way. The non-workers are going to a parallel world where their skills are worth enough for them to survive. It could be crime or the black labor market. You can't expect them to lay down and die.

As more workers go from the labor market to unemployment, things keep going the same way. More money needed from the workers, minimum wage going up, job positions closing, more people unemployed, bigger black market, more money needed to "solve" the problem, labor cost goes up, prices goes up, minimum wage goes up.



Sound familiar, isn't it?

Answer 47

I AM NOT in favour of ANYTHING European AT ALL thank you very much !!!

Answer 48

I don't favour the EU dictating in my countries affairs. As far as I am concerned you can take the EU and ............ it.

Answer 49

i don't favour a European anything to be honest.

Answer 50

No its ridiculous and should stay the way it is at the moment

Answer 51

Firstly answer me this....





Who are you?

Why do you ask such skewed questions about Europe? "is a european tax a good idea" wtf was that?

Why have they given your silly skewed questions such importance on this board?

Answer 52

NO



We should decide according to our own circumstances



Europe should not dictate to us

Answer 53

no way England would be a big looser

Answer 54

No....how stupid!!!..each country is different and has a different cost of living!!!.

Answer 55

No, it's a stupid idea because the cost of living isnt the same in each country.

Answer 56

I'm not in favour of ANYTHING European thank you very much !!!

Answer 57

Dum stupid idea, will never work.

Answer 58

No mind your own business Brussels!

Answer 59

No way! it is not that simple

Answer 60

no it won`t work.

Answer 61

down with the NWO!

Answer 62

yup it is a stupid idea!