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PUB chain Wetherspoons yesterday became the third big business in a week to complain that its profit will be hit by the new national “living wage.”
Chairman Tim Martin argued that pubs would be unfairly squeezed by the new £7.20 minimum, which comes into force for over-25s in April next year, and by having to pay 20 per cent VAT on food sales.
Wetherspoons follows both Next and Whitbread, owners of Costa Coffee and Premier Inn, in attacking the rebranded minimum wage.
On Monday, the GMB union will stage a demonstration outside Next in Newbury at 6pm, calling on shoppers to put pressure on the retailer’s head Lord Wolfson to pay staff at least the new minimum rate now.
GMB regional officer Asia Allison said: “Next should make work pay. If this was done, staff would not need their meagre wages to be topped up by taxpayers with family tax credits and housing benefits so as to make ends meet.”
