THE island’s biggest union backs a minimum wage.

Transport and General Workers’ Union local official Ron Le Cras said Guernsey was out of step with other places ‘We are the only place in the British Isles that hasn’t got one,’ he said.

A minimum wage locally would probably have to be about £5.50 per hour to reflect the high cost of living.

‘People complain about the adverse affect of a minimum wage, but in the UK it’s actually reduced unemployment because people are working in jobs, such as catering, which they might not have before.’

He said that the level would have to be reviewed regularly, as it was in the UK, where it had already gone up three times. Setting a rate and leaving it for a few years would serve no purpose.

The local rate would need to be higher than the UK, where the cost of living is lower.

He said Guernsey had been slow in introducing a minimum wage and it could have been done two years ago.

Guernsey Building Trades Employers’ Association president Ken Tailby said it would support the introduction of a minimum wage.

‘The association’s view is that we have been working slowly towards it by altering our apprentices’ wage structure so they can achieve a minimum wage by the time they are 18,’ he said.

Mr Tailby, too, was surprised at the time it had taken for the matter to be discussed politically.

‘My own view is that the whole issue of subcontractors not being paid and outside building contractors being brought over needs to be looked at by the States.’