Green Party Proposes £15 Minimum Wage for All Workers by April 2027

The Green Party of England and Wales is advocating for a GBP#15 minimum wage for all workers, irrespective of age, to be implemented by April 2027. This proposal is a central plank of their new 'Worker's Charter', which outlines a comprehensive package of employment rights.

Beyond the wage increase, the Charter pledges immediate protection from unfair dismissal from the first day of employment. It also seeks to enforce full bans on 'fire and rehire' practices – where employers dismiss staff to re-engage them on less favourable terms – and prohibit zero-hour contracts entirely.

Green Party leader Zack Polanksi criticised current governmental approaches to workers' rights, stating that Labour's measures are "weak and have been watered down after pressure from corporate lobbyists." He asserted that the Greens would address the "massive imbalance in our workplaces and give control back to workers."

Currently, the official minimum wage stands at GBP#12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over, with lower rates for younger age groups. Labour's 2024 manifesto included commitments to abolish these age-based discriminatory bands and increase the minimum wage for younger workers. However, reports suggest ministers are considering delaying these plans following warnings from businesses about the potential cost implications.

The Green Party's proposals extend to public sector pay, demanding that rises at a minimum match inflation, with a particular emphasis on higher increases for the lowest-paid workers. Furthermore, the party intends to scrap all "anti-union and anti-strike laws" introduced since 1979, including the ban on secondary picketing.

In contrast, the government's Employment Rights Act, passed in December, introduces the right to guaranteed hours for those on 'exploitative' zero-hour contracts, based on a 21-week working period. This legislation also reduces the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims to six months from two years and categorises 'fire and rehire' as automatically unfair dismissal, except in cases of severe financial difficulty for businesses. Critics have noted these measures fall short of Labour's original manifesto pledges for day-one unfair dismissal protection and an absolute end to 'fire and rehire'.

The Conservative Party and Reform UK have both committed to repealing the Employment Rights Act if they assume power, citing concerns that it is "anti-business" and could lead to job losses. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has previously suggested that further increases to the minimum wage would be unsustainable for businesses. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also indicated that the minimum wage is too high for younger workers.

The Liberal Democrats have called for an independent review to establish a genuine living wage across all sectors, alongside a 20% higher minimum wage for individuals on zero-hour contracts to offset the instability of fluctuating hours.