ACS calls for freeze in national minimum wage
The Association of Convenience Stores has urged the Low Pay Commission to freeze the national minimum wage in 2014 to help ease the impact of higher employment costs on small retailers.
The ACS Minimum Wage Survey, conducted in partnership with the Scottish Grocers Federation, showed that 87% of retailers have reduced staff hours within their business as a result of increases in employment costs, while 75% have delayed expansion and investment plans.
Findings from the Voice of Local Shops survey of 1,100 retailers earlier this year revealed that the majority of independent retailers believe that they earn less than the national minimum wage when their working hours are taken into account.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We urge the Low Pay Commission to consider carefully the implications that a rise in minimum wage would have on thousands of hard working retailers who are already cutting staff hours to stay afloat. A freeze in 2014 would give small business owners a welcome reprieve and allow them to invest in their long term future.”
The ACS National Minimum Wage Survey collected information from 33 businesses with a total of 911 stores across the convenience sector representing a total of 13,923 employees. The Low Pay Commission will make its recommendation for the 2014 wage rates at the start of next year.
