SHOPWORKERS gave evidence to the Low Pay Commission yesterday in order to explain why they cannot exist on minimum wages.

The commission is mounting an evidence-gathering tour investigating the effectiveness of the government’s so-called national living wage (NLW).

The tour’s route goes through Neath, Swansea, Ayr, Kilmarnock, Derry, Hartlepool, Great Yarmouth, Wigan and Manchester.

Retail workers’ trade union Usdaw says young workers in retail are hit particularly hard, as they make up one-third of the retail workforce and are excluded from the NLW.

The current minimum wage rate of £7.83 is paid only to workers aged 25 and over. Usdaw wants young workers included. It also wants the wage to rise to a minimum of £10 an hour by 2020.

Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “While the cost of living is rising sharply, wage growth has been sluggish, which is why we launched our ‘time for better pay’ campaign.

“The minimum wage needs to increase significantly to address the squeeze on living standards and Usdaw continues to call for at least £10 per hour.

“Usdaw is also extremely concerned about the pay gap for young workers. For many young workers, being denied the so-called NLW pay rate reinforces the already desperate position that they are experiencing.

“Usdaw’s evidence clearly shows that lower pay rates and greater insecurity of employment for young workers is a significant factor in the country’s mental health crisis.”

Meanwhile, findings from the union’s 2018 survey revealed yesterday the two main causes of violence against shopworkers — the refusal of alcohol sales to under-age customers and apprehending shoplifters.

Mr Lillis said: “Life on the front line of retail can be pretty tough for many shopworkers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them.”