£15ph National minimum wage for hgv drivers to be made compulsory

£15ph National minimum wage for hgv drivers should be made compulsory. It’s came to my attention that minimum wage has risen for UK workers but HGV drivers wages are still far too low. If minimum wage for HGV drivers was set at £15, you would see that the driver shortage would end

In most cases of HGV driving the average wage is set to £9 a hour. This is for 60 hours but for an average 48 over a set period. 60hours -5hours for breaks =£495 a week, that's a lot you would think? let's take into account work life balance ,weekend work, night shifts cpc courses that come out of your free time, 35hours over 5 years .This is a highly skilled job what can keep you away from family all week, stuck in endless traffic jams whilst companies make millions, we keep the UK running.

The Government has committed to increase the National Living Wage to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020, subject to sustained economic growth. Our aim is to have a minimum wage rate that helps as many low-paid workers as possible, while making sure that we do not damage their employment prospects by setting it too high.

The Government considers the expert and independent advice of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) when setting the minimum wage rates. In making recommendations to Government, the LPC draw on economic, labour market and pay analysis, independent research and stakeholder evidence. Setting the minimum wage too high or increasing it too quickly may lead to higher unemployment and harm the very people the policy is intended to help.

Many employers pay their workers more than the legal minimum, where it is affordable for them to do so. So long as they are paying at least the legal minimum, this is a decision for employers to take. Therefore, the Government has no plans to introduce a higher minimum wage rate specifically for HGV drivers.

Since its introduction in 1999, the adult minimum wage rate has increased faster than both inflation and average earnings. On 1st April 2019, the National Living Wage was increased by 4.9% from £7.83 to £8.21 and is on track to meet its 2020 targets. Furthermore, the National Minimum Wage also increased by 4.3% from £7.38 to £7.70 for 21-24 year olds.

The Government has an aspiration to end low pay and next year, will set out the Low Pay Commission’s remit for the years beyond 2020.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy