PROGRESSING BACKWARDS

It suits politicians to portray UK workers as living in a society that gives them a steadily improving economic position, but recent figures completely deny that claim. 'The number of UK workers earning below the so-called living wage has risen to 4.8 million, research suggests. The figure, equivalent to 20% of employees, is up from 3.4 million in 2009, the Resolution Foundation think tank said. .......Although employers are obliged to pay the minimum wage, there is no legal requirement to pay the living wage. ......It found that 25% of women and 15% of men were paid below the living wage in 2012 - up from 18% and 11% in 2009.' (BBC News, 4 September) R D