Business group calls for national minimum wage freeze

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has called for a freeze in the national minimum wage in 2009.

The call forms part of the BCC's new strategic framework for economic recovery, and follows the Low Pay Commission's recent decision to delay its recommendations for this year from February to May, to allow the Commission access to additional economic data.

Other measures outlined in the BCC's recovery plan include:

§ A reintroduction of Empty Property Rate Relief

§ A reduction in the rate of small companies' corporation tax

§ A reversal of the planned increase for national insurance contributions in 2011

§ The automation of Small Business Rate Relief

§ The creation of Enterprise Zones, where businesses in specific areas will benefit from a simplified planning regime and tax exemptions

§ A reintroduction of the Temporary Short Time Working Compensation Scheme

§ Assisting exporters to exploit opportunities in the increasingly competitive position of sterling

David Frost, BCC Director General, said, 'Collectively, we need to be looking at what sort of economy we want to see in the future and importantly what action will need to be taken to get us there. This recovery plan should act to foster growth in the short-term and lay the foundations for economic stability in the long-term'.

The recovery plan can be downloaded here.