WORKERS in East Lancashire are being urged to make sure they are being paid the minimum wage.

The Lancashire branch of the TUC is organising a mass leafleting campaign on town centres across the area on Saturday to raise awareness of the minimum wage which came into force on April 1.

It sets a minimum hourly rate of £3.60 for workers over 21 and £3 for workers aged between 18 and 21 and covers most employees including part time workers, homeworkers and piece workers..

"We want to make sure that everyone gets what they are entitled to under the new legislation," said Peter Billington, the Accrington-based Lancashire TUC secretary .

"It is a criminal offence for an employer not to pay the national minimum wage and we will give help and advice in enforcing workers' rights."

Mr Billington said it was difficult to assess how well the minimum wage was being implemented locally because of the short time period involved.

But reports in other parts of the country suggest some employers are looking at ways of getting round it.

"We have heard of cases where workers have had their hours reduced so that the overall amount they are paid doesn't increase."

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