Government must address low wages and insecure work

The London Assembly notes that four in 10 claimants of Universal Credit in London are employed but do not earn enough to support themselves and their families.

Because of this, it is today calling on the Mayor to lobby the Government to urgently take action to address low wages and insecure work.

It is also calling on the Government to address NHS waiting lists to help claimants get the care they need to return to work.

Marina Ahmad AM, who proposed the motion, said:

"Over 1 million Londoners rely on Universal Credit, - a stark reminder of the Government’s mismanagement of our economy. Four in 10 claimants are employed but struggle to support themselves and their families due to low wages or insecure hours.

“This situation is exacerbated by long NHS waiting lists, meaning many of the 2.6 million Londoners unemployed due to ill health are not getting the care they need to return to work.

“The Mayor has supported Londoners on low wages with measures such as freezing transport fares, extending free school meals, and investing in long-term solutions such as affordable housing and the London Living Wage.

“However, the Government needs to take action on low wages and insecure work, along with addressing NHS waiting lists so that claimants receive the care they need to re-enter the workforce."

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly notes that London now has more than 1 million people claiming Universal Credit ^[1].

This Assembly notes that 4 in 10 claimants in London are employed but do not earn enough to support themselves and their families ^[2].

This is an outcome of economic mismanagement from the Government, who have overseen a long-term decline in jobs and wages. On top of this, a record 2.6 million are out of work because of ill health ^[3], many of whom would be able to return to work if the Government tackled NHS waiting lists.

The Assembly welcomes the Mayor supporting Londoners with the cost of living, including freezing transport fares, extending free school meals for primary school children, providing free holiday meals for children and running a successful pension credit campaign.

The Assembly notes the Mayor’s long-term investments that will help address the cost of living in the future, such as the affordable housing programme, encouraging employers to sign up to the London Living Wage and insulation programmes to help with heating costs.

This Assembly condemns the Government’s economic mismanagement that has led to one million Londoners having to claim Universal Credit.

This Assembly further condemns attacks of workers’ rights, which will cause a decrease in pay and conditions, such as the minimum service level legislation.

The Assembly calls on the Mayor to lobby the Government to urgently take action to address low wages and insecure work. This Assembly also calls on the Government to address NHS waiting lists to help claimants get the care they need to return to work.