I Paying bosses to cut Lyouth wages paign-Lobby of Parliament

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Can't afford to employ more people? THE Tories are paying the bosses to cut the wages of young workers.

The Young Workers Scheme is the result of the Tories' promise to alleviate youth unemployment following the riots last summer. A package costing £400 million was announced but the £400 million all goe: to the bosses, not to youth.

Every employer who employs a worker: aged under 18, at a wage of less than £40 a week can claim £15 a week from the government. If the empioyer can only manage to keep your wages below £45 a week, then he can claim £7.50.

This scheme only applies to private industry, as the Tories can manage to keep the wages of their public sector youth down themselves, thank you very much. According to the Tory theory, lower wages mean more jobs.

So if you can employ young workers at slave labour wages, then the Tories will reward you with £15 a week. What a gift!

Rise

This nitty little scheme also means that young workers will now have no chance of getting a wage rise out of their bosses.

Every employer will say he can't afford to lose £15 a week from the government by paying more than £40 a week. So it's £40 or the dole!

Not surprisingly the takeup on this scheme has exceeded the Tories' wildest expectations. Since January 4 when the scheme began, 20,000 applications have been made, rate of 4,000 a week.

What is shameful is the lack of protest against this scheme from the labour movement. Obviously if a boss can employ a young worker at such rock bottom wages, the jobs of older workers are at risk.

And if the youth can't look to the labour movement to defend their wages and jobs, who can they look Branches LPYS branches should hold public meetings, and picket job centres and Careers Offices. Trade union branches should demand that their union nationally and the TUC refuse to have anything to do with the scheme, and campaign against it.

The Tories have also announced that they're soonderful, you might think. YOPs. But no! What they'll replace it with is worse!

Tebbit's (who else?)

scheme means £15 a week for school leavers at 16, £25 a week for 17-18 year olds.

If you refuse this tempting offer, you can get your dole money cut off.

Tebbit's scheme also includes a chance to go to a work rehabilitation centre out in the country. Again, if you refuse, your dole can be cut off.

This means that there will be even less chance of getting a real job, as the bosses. will prefer to take on cheap labourunder this 'son of YOPs'.

JO THWAITES