The Minimum Wage

Welcome to Duloc

Let's suppose you left school at 16 without much in the way of qualifications and are now in your early twenties living at home with your mum. You are currently unemployed and likely to stay that way - the only jobs out there are for qualified people with experience. Then one day a mate of yours tells you how he has just come back from Duloc and has managed to buy a small flat for cash.

You ask him the crack and he suggests you talk to Dave the Man. Which you do. Dave explains that he can get you into Duloc and back again, no problem. The deal is that you will be working 10 hours a day cleaning carriages, six days a week. It is hard work - like being in the army but nobody is trying to kill you. After all deductions you will be making £2,000 per week and can expect to return home after six months with £50,000 whcih will be paid into a your bank account each week.

Dave gives you some phone numbers and you check it all out - you meet guys who have been there who tell you it is all kosher but don't take the piss - just work hard and keep your head down and it will be fine. But if you make waves, expect trouble - "these people are very fair but if you make waves and don't listen you could end up in hospital - just like in the army. But the army don't pay two grand a week in your hand"

So you go - and it really is just like being in the army but when you get back you have £50,000 in the bank and you buy a small place in Salford. Then after a month you decide to have another go. But meanwhile, a huge row has broken out in Duloc - it seems that people are being recruited in England to clean carriages in Duloc and even more shocking they are only paid a miserable pittance - they only get £2,000 per week in their hand whereas the legal minimum wage in Duloc is £200 per hour.

So no more trips to Duloc - you have been saved from exploitation - aren't you grateful?

Bob Cory

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Modified on 26/10/2019 at 11:18:09 by ℗ Bob Cory