ABOUT one in three key workers earns less than £10 an hour, the TUC revealed today, ahead of the introduction of new minimum and living wage rates. 

That represents about 3.2 million key workers who are finding it hardest to pay bills and put food on the tables, the union body’s analysis of the Labour Force Survey for the third quarter of 2020 found.

The new national living wage of £8.91 and the national minimum wages based on age come into effect yesterday. 

Keyworkers being paid less than £10 an hour include 75 per cent of retail workers, equivalent to a million retail assistants, cashiers and shelf fillers, 62 per cent of carers and 69 per cent of teaching and education support assistants. 

The TUC is arguing that all key workers deserve a “decent” pay rise, as they have been expected to continue to work throughout lockdown and local restrictions during the height of the pandemic. 

Retail workers have been keeping essential shops going, often in conditions that do not allow for proper social distancing, the union body pointed out. And care workers have been looking after some of the most vulnerable, putting themselves at risk to do so, it added.

TUC general secretary  Frances O’Grady  said: “Our shop assistants, carers and school support staff have worked around the clock to keep the country going through the pandemic — often at great personal risk to their health. 

“But those expecting a decent pay increase … have been let down by the government’s decision to row back on the full rise they were promised.

“Ministers must get the minimum wage up to £10 an hour to stop millions of working people from living in poverty.”