An EU minimum wage target for adequate in-work incomes?

This article summarises the arguments in favour of an EU initiative on minimum wages and highlights the steps that have been taken so far, focusing, in particular, on the First Stage consultation document prepared by the European Commission. Based on this consultation document and previous proposals, this article assesses some of the issues related to promoting an EU target minimum wage as a percentage of a national reference wage. Focusing on the adequacy of minimum wages for workers and their families, this article highlights first, the impact rather technical issues relating to the definition of the reference wage may have, and second, the importance of considering the interaction of the minimum wage with the broader tax benefit system in ensuring adequate in-work incomes. Whereas an EU initiative on minimum wages certainly has merit, these two caveats illustrate the need for a clear definition of what one wants to achieve by this initiative, and indicate that specific goals will require additional accompanying measures, such as a further monitoring of the net incomes of minimum wage earners

Not the way forward: some comments on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's consultation document

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Regulation of Advanced Critical Care Practitioners: Past, present and future

The role of Advanced Critical Care Practitioners was included in the Department of Health’s recent consultation document on the regulation of Medical Associate Professions. This prompted the author, an Advanced Critical Care Practitioner, to examine the regulation of Advanced Critical Care Practitioners in the past, present and future. National competence frameworks have been developed. However, there continued to be criticism on the lack of regulation and title protection of Advanced Critical Care Practitioners. This article discusses the response of governing bodies to the consultation and its potential future implications for Advanced Critical Care Practitioners.

Curo'n Hyderus ar y Drws Tri Enw

In the Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod, August 2016, a new consultation document was launched outlining the Welsh Government's priorities as it aims to reach the target of doubling the number of Welsh speakers to a million by 2050. In the document, education is listed as one of the key vehicles on the journey, with changing attitudes towards the Welsh language (through 'normalisation') also listed as an important engine. In a previous edition of this journal, Gwyn Lewis expressed his disappointment to find the Welsh language in Successful Futures nothing more than a 'subject in the curriculum – rather than a teaching and learning medium across the curriculum'. Contemplating the goal of a 'million Welsh speakers', this article considers what kind of positive changes could be initiated by adopting a more all-encompassing approach to languages, one that frees language from the constraints of a skill-centered mentality. It revisits Successful Futures, and examines the potential for the Welsh language as a key player beyond the 'Area of Learning and Experience: Languages, Literacy and Communication' described by Donaldson. It finds an opportunity to embrace the nation's bilingualism as an agent that can go a significant way towards attaining the core 'four purposes' of the new curriculum.

The Population Quality Challenge

Hong Kong’s unusual demographic condition today is a direct result of the massive immigration wave that occurred in 1945–1951. The situation has been worsened by inadequate investment in education at all levels. These long-lasting effects will continue to impact Hong Kong’s future in this century unless we implement an immigration policy and set significant target numbers to attract educated and skilled persons to be our permanent residents. Alternative measures suggested in the government’s consultation document on population policy – Thoughts for Hong Kong – will not be adequate.