The lowest wage that an employer is allowed
to pay its employees by law or union
contract. certain occupations have,
traditionally, been poorly paid, often
because the workers involved have had weak,
or no, representative bodies. Following a
House of Lords Committee report of 1890, the
Trade Boards Act was passed 1909 to establish
minimum wages in a limited number of
industries, known as the `sweated trades'.
Subsequent legislation extended the scope of
minimum wage jurisdiction, introducing
agricultural wages boards and wages councils,
which became the most common instrument for
this purpose. Despite a 120-strong wages
inspectorate, the wages council system of
determining minimum wages and conditions in
certain industries depends greatly on the
willingness of small employers to implement
wages council awards. There is also a view
among some right-wing politicians that the
councils are unnecessary and should be
abolished.