Scottish Parliament backs Greens call for end to wage discrimination against young workers
MSPs have backed Scottish Green MSP Iris Duane’s call to end age-based pay discrimination and ensure young workers receive the same minimum wage as all of their colleagues.
Iris, Scotland’s youngest MSP, made the case for equal pay as part of a Scottish Government debate on Supporting Young People to Participate in the Labour Market on Tuesday.
She highlighted the unfairness of paying workers different rates simply because of their age.
It follows Chancellor John Healey’s decision to increase the minimum wage to £13.21 an hour for workers aged 21 and over from April 2027, while those aged 18 to 20 will receive just £11.27 an hour.
The decision comes despite Labour’s manifesto commitment to remove discriminatory age bands and ensure all adult workers receive the same minimum wage.
The Scottish Government backed Iris’ amendment which urged the UK Government to “act immediately to end age-based minimum wage discriminatory bands to ensure that young workers are paid a fair wage, and notes the need to establish a minimum standard for apprenticeships to ensure effective quality control and fair treatment for apprentices”.
Scottish Green MSP Iris Duane said:
“I am delighted today that the Scottish Government agreed to support my amendment, showing every young person here in Scotland that their work is worth equal pay’’
“It is outrageous that young people are being discriminated against by the Labour Government and will not see their wages equalised with those over the age of 21.’’
‘Rent, food, bills and everything else is not any cheaper just because you are younger. As someone raised in a young single parent household, who has worked since my teen years, I know all too intimately the barriers faced by young workers’
“Young workers are still facing the same rising living costs as everyone else. I don't know how we can seriously tell them to just deal with it’
“It is particularly disappointing that Labour has failed to honour its manifesto commitment to scrap these discriminatory age bands, and is going backwards.
“I’m glad the Scottish Parliament has backed my amendment to call this out and stand up for young workers who are being unfairly discriminated against.
“Fair pay must apply to all of our workers, regardless of how old they are.”