Chief Minister Howard Quayle has pledged his support for the ’living wage’ - but won’t commit to a timescale for ensuring all government workers are paid it.

Last month, Tynwald approved the introduction of a ’living wage’ of £8.61 per hour.

The concept is a voluntary one for employers - as opposed to the mandatory minimum wage, the highest band of which is £7.50.

About 1,200 workers in the Isle of Man are earning below the living wage and more than one tenth - 123 - are employed by the government.

In the House of Keys on Tuesday, Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) asked the chief minister whether it was his policy that all parts of government should be ’living wage employers’.

Mr Quayle said: ’I do support the principle of a living wage for employees on the Isle of Man and, therefore, I believe that the Isle of Man Government should set an example by working towards becoming a living wage employer itself.

’While this is an important aspiration, we need to fully understand the impact and cost implications before it is implemented.’

When Mr Hooper asked if there was a timescale, Mr Quayle declined to give one.

He said that it was important to ensure it was ’done right’.

strategy

’If we rush into this without coming up with a proper strategy, then we could get into trouble with showing the way and how it is done successfully with the business community,’ he warned.

’At the end of the day, the government only has 123 of the 1,200 people mentioned who were receiving an income of less than the living wage.’

Meanwhile, Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan MHK was similarly reluctant to give a commitment over government changing its procurement policy to use only living wage employers.

He said: ’Whilst I am supportive of the introduction of a living wage for the Isle of Man, it would be premature to consider reference to it in the procurement policy at this stage of its development.’

Mr Hooper asked Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas what was being done to identify those who are earning less than the living wage figure.

Mr Thomas said the main mechanism for determining that was the annual earnings survey, the latest of which should be published in February.

The Cabinet Office would also work with Treasury to look at the impact of the living wage, while the Household Income and Expenditure Survey, conducted every five years and next due during 2018-19, would also be used.