Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy and Transport – in the Senedd at 1:42 pm on 20 March 2019.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 1:42, 20 March 2019

Sadly, of course, the cat was let out of the bag and it was an insult to Welsh workers, of course, to suggest that low wages in Wales was something to be celebrated. The truth, of course, is that wages in Wales have been remaining at too low a level for far too long. I do not believe that reflects well on 20 years of Labour-led Governments. But one tool, certainly, for raising wages in Wales is the push for wider roll-out of the living wage. The public sector is engaging positively. I think councils, led by both my party and yours, have taken positive steps on the roll-out of the living wage, but a strong Welsh economy needs a strong private sector, and the private sector would benefit certainly from having more workers on the living wage. But isn't the truth of the matter that, in the private sector in Wales, we are lagging way behind other parts of the UK when it comes to the implementation of the living wage?