FYLDE holiday industry leaders welcomed the launch of the national mimimum wage today (April 1).

Though hotel, catering and seasonal shop workers are traditionally low-paid, Blackpool holiday traders say a fair wage will help raise standards.

Set at £3.60 an hour for fully-trained workers over 21 and £3 an hour for 18-21 year-olds, the rate is low enough not to rouse employers' opposition.

Erwin Belsky, chairman of the Blackpool Combined Association representing 1,000 hotels, shops and cafs, said: "Most of our members pay a decent wage anyway, if you want decent staff you have to pay them reasonably." Elaine Hodgin, of the Blackpool Private Hotels Association, said: "In the long term it will be to our advantage because we need quality people to work in the service industry.

"We need people who look on it as a career, not a seasonal stop-gap. People need to be valued and they deserve a decent living wage."

Josie Hammond, of the Blackpool Hotel and Guest house Association, commented: "The area it will have most impact is on seasonal retailers and cafs who tend to employ youngsters cash in hand. I think they should be re-thinking their employment relations and how people are treated.

"But in the service industry as a whole you have to pay a reasonable rate to build up staff loyalty. At this level it's being absorbed, though it may have an impact in taking on fewer extra staff."

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