'Clampdown' on minimum wage loopholes

There is a need to stop some employers from abusing the law by clamping down on minimum wage loopholes, according to Unison.

Recently, the Treasury announced that the national minimum wage legislation will be amended following consultation on travel and subsistence schemes which are implemented for some temporary workers who are paid at or near the rate.

A spokesperson for Unison welcomed the announcement, saying: "Unscrupulous employers have always looked for ways to get around paying workers the minimum wage they are entitled to."

She added that if the government is "really serious" about assisting people who earn the minimum wage, it should think about some of its "policies on cutting benefits that hit some of the poorest in our society".

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, also praised the government announcement.

He said that in too many cases, plans surrounding travel and subsistence have been miss-sold to workers.

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