NationStates Jolt Archive


Minimum Wage (Social Justice)

Grievuspwn4g3
30-01-2009, 23:06
NOTING the existence of poverty within World Assembly (WA) member states,

DEFINING 'poverty' as 'the inability to afford what can reasonably described a basic standard of living',

BELIEVING that it is within the power of the WA to eradicate such a status,

HEREBY does this act reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare

- MANDATES that member states calculate the minimum wage that would prevent a state of poverty,

- FURTHER MANDATES that member states force employers to pay at least such a wage to all employees,

- ESTABLISHES 'The Minimum Wage Inspectorate' (MWI), comprising of officials appointed by the WA member staes, for the purpose of ensuring compliance, using whatever sanctions deemed appropriate against member states whose compliance is lacking, and rewards for those states whose compliance is exemplary,

- ESTABLISHES 'MWI Fund', for the purpose of collecting proceeds of sanctions and handing them as rewards to exemplary states,

THUS does this act increase standard of living and basic welfare.

((OOC: PS: could someone please clarify the strength of this proposal? I think strong, but I'm not sure.))
Glen-Rhodes
30-01-2009, 23:25
- ESTABLISHES 'The Minimum Wage Inspectorate' (MWI), comprising of officials appointed by the WA member staes, for the purpose of ensuring compliance, using whatever sanctions deemed appropriate against member states whose compliance is lacking, and rewards for those states whose compliance is exemplary,A committee's composition cannot be dictated, nor can members of committees be appointed by nations.

While I support the idea of minimum wage, I am not certain that the World Assembly should exercise authority in this area. For one, establishing minimum wage assumes that all economies include wages, which isn't the case at all. Second, minimum wage may not be feasible in all countries.

I would like to see a proposal on the floor about reducing poverty (eliminating it is a pipe dream). However, at this time, with the text proposed, I cannot offer my support of this proposal.

Dr. Bradford Castro
Ambassador to the World Assembly
from the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes
Tai Lao
30-01-2009, 23:40
While I support the idea of minimum wage, I am not certain that the World Assembly should exercise authority in this area. For one, establishing minimum wage assumes that all economies include wages, which isn't the case at all. Second, minimum wage may not be feasible in all countries.

This is a concern that we also have, but the representative from Glen-Rhodes put it best. If such a resolution were to pass, it would have to be done on a case by case basis, which would create a bureaucracy, tying up resources that could be better used for more important WA matters.

Perhaps, as Glen-Rhodes suggested, something focusing on reducing poverty would be a better course of action rather than implementing a minimum wage

-Ariovist Lynxkind, Ambassador
Aundotutunagir
30-01-2009, 23:43
Surely this contradicts/duplicates World Assembly Resolution #21, Living Wage Act?
Glen-Rhodes
30-01-2009, 23:51
Surely this contradicts/duplicates World Assembly Resolution #21, Living Wage Act?

Contradicts maybe, but it certainly doesn't duplicate it. This proposal puts forth a minimum wage in which a person can afford a 'basic standard of living'. The Living Wage Act only mandates enough wages for the bare minimums of living, then tacks on things like 'medical allowances'.

It would have to be repealed, though, for this proposal to be voted on. No harm in discussing the proposal, though.

Dr. Bradford Castro
Ambassador to the World Assembly
from the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes
Urgench
30-01-2009, 23:53
Surely this contradicts/duplicates World Assembly Resolution #21, Living Wage Act?


Indeed the respected Ambassador for Aundotutunagir is absolutely correct.


Yours,
Aundotutunagir
31-01-2009, 00:07
Contradicts maybe, but it certainly doesn't duplicate it. This proposal puts forth a minimum wage in which a person can afford a 'basic standard of living'. The Living Wage Act only mandates enough wages for the bare minimums of living, then tacks on things like 'medical allowances'.

It would have to be repealed, though, for this proposal to be voted on. No harm in discussing the proposal, though.

Dr. Bradford Castro
Ambassador to the World Assembly
from the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes
You get some sort of perverse thrill out of being wrong in public, don't you? I was speaking rhetorically. It clearly both contradicts and duplicates the Living Wage Act.
Glen-Rhodes
31-01-2009, 00:43
You get some sort of perverse thrill out of being wrong in public, don't you? I was speaking rhetorically. It clearly both contradicts and duplicates the Living Wage Act.No, and you're wrong. Yes, it contradicts the Living Wage Act, but it does not duplicate it. The Living Wage Act does not establish a minimum wage that affords people a 'basic standard of living'. It provides the bare minimum of living, with some allowances tacked on. The two are quite different.

Either way, the proposal is illegal so long as the Living Wage Act isn't repealed. However, that doesn't mean we can't discuss the merits of this proposal anyways.

Dr. Bradford Castro
Ambassador to the World Assembly
from the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes
Waldsee
31-01-2009, 00:43
The Democratic Republic of Waldsee would unequivocally oppose any WA resolution enacting international minimum wage restrictions.

Klaus Peter Ernst-Macher, Delegate to the World Assembly from the Democratic Republic of Waldsee
Urgench
31-01-2009, 01:58
No, and you're wrong. Yes, it contradicts the Living Wage Act, but it does not duplicate it. The Living Wage Act does not establish a minimum wage that affords people a 'basic standard of living'. It provides the bare minimum of living, with some allowances tacked on. The two are quite different.

Either way, the proposal is illegal so long as the Living Wage Act isn't repealed. However, that doesn't mean we can't discuss the merits of this proposal anyways.

Dr. Bradford Castro
Ambassador to the World Assembly
from the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes



What on earth would be the point of wasting one's time debating the merits of a resolution the subject of which has already been dealt with, in far superior fashion in a resolution already passed by this organisation for which no repeal is proposed Dr Castro ?

Yours,
Atoxia
31-01-2009, 10:56
NOTING the existence of poverty within World Assembly (WA) member states,

DEFINING 'poverty' as 'the inability to afford what can reasonably described a basic standard of living',

BELIEVING that it is within the power of the WA to eradicate such a status,

HEREBY does this act reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare

- MANDATES that member states calculate the minimum wage that would prevent a state of poverty,

- FURTHER MANDATES that member states force employers to pay at least such a wage to all employees,

- ESTABLISHES 'The Minimum Wage Inspectorate' (MWI), comprising of officials appointed by the WA member staes, for the purpose of ensuring compliance, using whatever sanctions deemed appropriate against member states whose compliance is lacking, and rewards for those states whose compliance is exemplary,

- ESTABLISHES 'MWI Fund', for the purpose of collecting proceeds of sanctions and handing them as rewards to exemplary states,

THUS does this act increase standard of living and basic welfare.

((OOC: PS: could someone please clarify the strength of this proposal? I think strong, but I'm not sure.))

I agree with the idea.
Glen-Rhodes
31-01-2009, 21:56
What on earth would be the point of wasting one's time debating the merits of a resolution the subject of which has already been dealt with, in far superior fashion in a resolution already passed by this organisation for which no repeal is proposed Dr Castro ?

Yours,

Well, because some of us believe that the Living Wage Act is not without its faults. The fact that no repeal has been proposed yet means nothing, in all honesty. The order in which one repeals legislation and replaces it does not matter during the drafting phase.

Dr. Bradford Castro
Ambassador to the World Assembly
from the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes
Gobbannium
01-02-2009, 00:59
As the author of the resolution in question, we feel entirely comfortable in declaring our belief that Dr Castro is once again emulating the legendary Humperdink van Dumpty. The Living Wage Act is quite explicit as to the calculations to determine wage levels to prevent a state of poverty, and hence is a duplication of the less explicit declarations of this proposal.
Glen-Rhodes
01-02-2009, 03:38
The Living Wage Act is quite explicit as to the calculations to determine wage levels to prevent a state of poverty, and hence is a duplication of the less explicit declarations of this proposal.I beg to differ. The Living Wage Act is clearly a means of delivering a person from poverty. However, it delivers them only to what can only be considered the lower-class/bare-minimum with an entirely optional medical benefit. Certainly not a basic standard of living, unless your view of such a thing is horribly warped.

If you're simply speaking of the fact that both this proposal and the Living Wage Act set minimum wages, then you're correct, a duplication violation does exist.

Either way, I doubt that the author of this proposal is going to continue his work. So, all the hoof-rah is over, ultimately, nothing.

Dr. Bradford Castro
Ambassador to the World Assembly
from the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes
Studly Penguins
01-02-2009, 16:17
NOTING the existence of poverty within World Assembly (WA) member states,

DEFINING 'poverty' as 'the inability to afford what can reasonably described a basic standard of living',

BELIEVING that it is within the power of the WA to eradicate such a status,

HEREBY does this act reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare

- MANDATES that member states calculate the minimum wage that would prevent a state of poverty,

- FURTHER MANDATES that member states force employers to pay at least such a wage to all employees,

- ESTABLISHES 'The Minimum Wage Inspectorate' (MWI), comprising of officials appointed by the WA member staes, for the purpose of ensuring compliance, using whatever sanctions deemed appropriate against member states whose compliance is lacking, and rewards for those states whose compliance is exemplary,

- ESTABLISHES 'MWI Fund', for the purpose of collecting proceeds of sanctions and handing them as rewards to exemplary states,

THUS does this act increase standard of living and basic welfare.

((OOC: PS: could someone please clarify the strength of this proposal? I think strong, but I'm not sure.))

It is our humble opinion that it does replicate the one stated by Urgench and others. If this ever did get to where it hit submission or vote we would stand opposed. This offers no protection to businesses in event of an economic downturn, also some of the smaller nations that arent as economically robust as some may not be able to match their nations eqivalent of the Minimum Wage, if not hit with sanctions for non-compliance their economy and business crash, creating the opposite effect. Placing the onus on other nations to get the other on its feet, when if this legislation were left alone it woudnt have happened in the first place.

Also I dont want to have to help fix another nations economy, and what if ones national minimum wage is higher than the established minimum prior to law taking effect? Do they get a reward right off the bat for being an 'example', I dont think they should!!