§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries have a legal minimum wage; and what has been the rate of job creation of each for the periods(a) 1970 to 1980, (b) 1989 to 1990 and (c) 1990 to the present day.
Type of coverage Rate of employment growth (percentage) Average unemployment rate (percentage)
1970–80 1980–90 1990–93 1970–80 1980–90 1990–93 Belgium Legally binding central agreement; lower rates for 16–20 year-olds 2.1 1.8 N/A 4.5 10.9 9.4 France SMW—single adult rate 4.8 3.4 -1.7 4.0 9.0 10.0 Greece Statutory central agreement 7.1 10.9 N/A 2.4 6.7 7.4 Luxembourg SMW 12.7 19.8 N/A 0.6 1.4 1.1 Netherlands SMW; reduced rates for 15–22 year-olds 6.0 N/A N/A 3.8 9.6 7.1 Portugal SMW N/A 17.3 -5.6 4.9 7.1 4.6 Spain SMW—single adult rate -7.4 7.3 -5.9 5.3 17.4 18.1 United States SMW—single adult rate; state minimum wages; low levels 24.8 18.4 1.2 6.2 7.0 6.5 Canada SMW—set provincially; low levels 34.6 17.4 -1.4 6.7 9.2 10.2 Australia Federal/state minimum wages; low levels 15.3 25.4 -2.6 4.1 7.4 9.5 New Zealand SMW 16.8 N/A 1.1 0.7 4.8 9.4 Japan System of minimum rates; low levels 8.7 12.9 3.3 1.7 2.5 2.2 Notes: SMW = statutory minimum wage; final column gives average unemployment rate for 1990 to 1993 except for Belgium and Netherlands 1990 to 1992—and Greece and Luxembourg—1990–1991.