Green Party Demands £15 Minimum Wage for All Workers by April 2027
The Green Party of England and Wales is advocating for a GBP#15 minimum wage across all employment sectors, targeting implementation by April 2027. This proposal forms a central plank of their 'Worker's Charter', which also includes significant reforms to employment rights.
Key pledges within the charter include immediate protection from unfair dismissal from the first day of employment, a comprehensive ban on 'fire and rehire' strategies, and the eradication of zero-hour contracts. Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised the current Labour government's approach to workers' rights as "weak and watered down" under corporate pressure, positioning the Greens as the definitive "workers' party".
Public Sector Pay and Union Rights
Beyond the minimum wage, the Greens propose that public sector pay rises must, at minimum, track inflation, with additional increases for the lowest-paid employees. The party also intends to repeal all "anti-union and anti-strike laws" enacted since 1979, specifically mentioning the ban on secondary picketing.
Currently, the official minimum wage stands at GBP#12.71 for workers over 21, with lower rates for younger age groups. Labour's 2024 manifesto pledged to remove these age-discriminatory bands and increase minimum wages for younger workers to align with older cohorts, though these plans face potential delays following business concerns.
In contrast, the Labour Party has defended its Employment Rights Act as a substantial uplift for employment rights, though critics contend it falls short of previous manifesto commitments, particularly regarding fire and rehire and initial unfair dismissal protections. The Conservatives and Reform UK have both committed to repealing Labour's Employment Rights Act, arguing it is detrimental to business and job creation. Liberal Democrats propose an independent review for a genuine living wage and a 20% higher minimum wage for zero-hour contract workers.