The Process of Fixing the British National Minimum Wage, 1997-2007

Author: Brown, William

Source: British Journal of Industrial Relations, Volume 47, Number 2, June 2009 , pp. 429-443(15)

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Abstract:

The British National Minimum Wage was introduced in 1999 under the guidance of a Low Pay Commission constructed on a basis of `social partnership'. The article analyses its conduct over its first 10 years from diary data. Key challenges were for it to be independent of government, to have its advice accepted by government and to maintain internal unanimity. The changing internal dynamics of the Commission, and its major negotiations over the level of the minimum wage, are described and analysed. Conclusions are drawn for the social partnership process.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8543.2009.00722.x

Affiliations: 1: Faculty of Economics, Cambridge University

Publication date: 2009-06-01