Whether labelled as minimum wage or rebranded as “Living Wage”, minimum wage is the great leveller. In more ways than one.

The guarantee that all workers will receive the basic minimum. (As defined by those paid a lot more than the minimum, and who probably own their own homes.)

Ensuring that the only way is up. Assuming that there is an up to go to.

As the minimum wage catches up with and, eventually, overtakes existing pay scales it is most likely that those who start work at minimum wage, will stay there for the remainder of their working lives. It won’t matter what qualifications or years of experience you have, if it is not in the shareholders interest to have a graded pay system, you will have no more value than a new starter with no experience.

It is important to remember that the only, sure-fire, way to make money off of poor people, is to make sure that they stay that way.

Ta Da!