How a UBI would help young people uncertain about the future
My name is Leo, I’m a 20 year-old (almost) graduated student who lives in Cardiff, and I recently became involved in the new group UBI Lab Cardiff. I’m incredibly passionate about Universal Basic Income (UBI), not only because I’m adamant that it’s the best policy for the government to adopt because of its benefits for everybody in society, but also because I believe UBI is especially beneficial for young people, and more specifically, young workers.
It’s a fact that young workers across the UK working in multiple sectors face wage discrimination on a daily basis simply because of their age. I experienced this first hand when I started my working life before coming to university, facing wage discrimination at companies like McDonald’s and Sports Direct. The latter is where I spent the longest period of work doing shifts on weekends as a ‘retail assistant’, employed on a zero hours contact with no guaranteed shifts.
I was 16 at the time, and was paid £4.09 per hour. I was promised that this wage would increase when I turned 18, working under the same job title of ‘retail assistant’. In my teenage naivety I accepted this as a reality, not minding that many of my older co-workers were taking home a higher wage for the same work. As I grow older and look back on that time, I become incredibly angry. Not only because of the position I was put in back then, but also because this is the reality which millions of newly-employed young workers face on a daily basis. This results in younger people having to work longer hours to take home a decent income, often being forced to put their own education, well-being and spending time with loved ones second.
Research into wage discrimination based on age reveals a startling number of companies who deploy the same tactics. If you’re a 16 year-old ‘Crew Member’ working in McDonald’s, you’re paid £5.75 per hour. This increases to £6.75 when you turn 18, £7.95 at 21 and £8.00 at 25. This is also the case for retailers such as John Lewis, who employ 16 and 17 year-olds on a rate of £6.39 per hour, increasing to £8.89 after the employee turns 18 for the same work. Young workers in apprenticeships are not exempt from this discrimination, with some companies employing young workers on the lowest ‘grade’ but tasked largely with the same work as colleagues on higher grades.
What’s the reason for this discrimination? The answer is simple: there isn’t one. You’re expected to do the same work with the same job title, but earn less money the younger you are. This wage discrimination, alongside the gender pay gap, the LGBTQ+ pay gap, the BAME pay gap and the wage discrimination faced by disabled workers is the result of large corporations being discriminatory. There is no reason why a wage should be determined by your age, sexuality, gender, ethnicity or disability.
For me, UBI rectifies the problems caused by wage discrimination. All citizens are entitled to the same basic income regardless of age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or disability. UBI gives individuals a stable income; it provides a concrete safety floor unlike Universal Credit, which every year results in hundreds of thousands falling through the gaps into poverty. Young people will no longer have to worry about a disproportionately low wage and the impact of uncertain working hours, and will be free to enjoy their lives as every young person should. This fact is especially important given the circumstances, as for many young people normal life has been brought to a standstill - we’re temporarily isolated from our friends and family due to the lockdown.
Coupled with this is the economic uncertainty this pandemic has caused. With the future tainted by another ‘once in a lifetime’ recession, many young people simply don’t know where they’ll be in a year’s time, let alone half a decade. The growing campaign for a UBI gives us the opportunity to call for a more equal society, guaranteeing an income for those who need it most and providing a level playing field for hope, success and equality of opportunity.
To many reading this blog I’m already preaching to the converted. The real question is: how do we sell this campaign to the wider population? We have to accept that in the short term a UBI may be slightly more expensive than schemes already in place. The campaign must revolve around emphasising the huge long-term benefits of a UBI. We must highlight the stories of those on low incomes whose lives would be transformed by a UBI. We must emphasise the importance of those who currently face wage discrimination and the opportunities a UBI would open for them. Individuals who are financially stable are much happier and have more time to do the things they enjoy, because they do not have to overwork to make ends meet.
On top of this UBI is good for business, as financially stable employees are more likely to be happier and more productive. This creates a cohesive and positive workplace, helping customers who, because of UBI, will have more money in their pockets.
For our campaign to be successful we must make it personal, constantly reaffirming how a UBI can help people within their everyday lives. Those already involved in the campaign understand that a UBI is not a far-fetched utopian idea – it is in fact a realistic and progressive policy aimed at helping those in society for who have been marginalised and ignored for too long. This is emphasised by the cross-party support for a basic income.
Opponents of the policy will aim to paint UBI with the utopian brush, meaning we must stay one step ahead of their critiques. Highlighting the positive impact a UBI would have on young workers is one of the many ways we can put forward our arguments and counter our opponents. Together, we can make UBI a reality. Together, we can make UBI our generation’s NHS.
To highlight all of this and bring together a Youth movement for UBI, I have co-founded UBI Lab Youth. If you would like to learn more, or get involved, please follow our social media!
Leo Holmes
Leo Holmes - @LeoHolmes1999
President of @LSCaerdydd Vice-Chair of @CaryoungLabour Co-Chair of @AgoredDeCymru Vice-Chair of @gmbyoungwsw Pro-European.