What Would You Pay A Labourer ?

[redgriff500]

Hi guys I'm building a house and occasionally I need a casual labourer.

What's an acceptable amount these days for an unskilled lad ?

I was thinking £50 but I'm told that's a lot to an 18yr old

[dazp]

thats sounds fair to be honest. Plus should not matter about the age as long as they are doing as asked.

[McHaggis]

£7 an hour seems fair if it's cash in hand. So £250 a week? Bung in an extra £30 if he's done a good job?

[crofty1984]

redgriff500 said:

Hi guys I'm building a house and occasionally I need a casual labourer.

What's an acceptable amount these days for an unskilled lad ?

I was thinking £50 but I'm told that's a lot to an 18yr old

That's about minimum wage, so I'd not say it's a lot. It's fair for the job though, so I'd go with that (and maybe a few quid as a bonus if he's done well like others have said).

[redgriff500]

I have worked out why he thought it was too much...

He was an apprentice and it seems the min wage for that is approx £2.50 !!

[crofty1984]

Oh, apprentices get absolutely fk-all.

My first job ever was shifting bricks, about 10 years ago. I got £30 cash in hand for an afternoon's work.

[MrAdaam]

As an apprentice it's a tiny, pitiful amount. He'd be glad for minimum wage I bet! Can't do any harm to drop him an enexpected couple of quid here and there for doing a decent job, either.

[Hoofy]

You want to pay him? He should pay you £20 and be glad to be getting any employment at all!!

[illmonkey]

£50 a day seems about right. Maybe bung him a £20 every other Friday so he can have a pint with it.

[CAPP0]

My son (26) picks up casual labouring jobs when he's back in the UK (spends a lot of time abroad) and he's lucky if he gets over £7 an hour even at his age. And there's tax to pay on that. Plus, although he has plenty of contacts and always gets work when he's here, there are 101 blokes queuing up behind him, even at those rates, for every job he gets.

So, £50 cash in hand for an 18 year old would look like (comparatively) good money.