The government is to blame

11:26am Thursday 27th March 2008

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THERE are many low-paid people whose wages are a long way from accurately reflecting the qualities, dedication and responsibility they show in their jobs.

And lifting their salaries to somewhere much nearer what the majority would agree to be their true worth is a laudable aim for any employer.

But what the government didn't do when they told councils to get moving was to explain where the money was going to come from to get rid of anomalies.

And since they cannot raise cash from council tax payers without the likelihood of being capped, councils like Blackburn with Darwen have had to find the cash themselves.

The council says it had taken the most pain-free route it could find but that doesn't the alter the fact that to pay for some people's increases hundreds of workers - and more than 300 earning less than £15k - have had to take pay cuts ranging from significant to downright destructive.

Labour argues that the council should have had a longer protection period thus easing the pain - and it's hard on the face of it to argue against this.

But regardless of the arguments surrounding the implementation, the starkest fact is that in trying to address a wrong, the government has created an almighty mess.

Either it should have provided the cash or it should have phased this whole process in over a long period that would mean no pay cuts for anyone.

As it is, the government has created a situation where thousands of workers up and down the country are being appallingly penalised.

It's beyond immoral.