Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting ahead of David Cameron’s speech said:
“David Cameron’s talk of full employment will seem like empty words to working people after five years of talents wasted and opportunities denied.
"The Tories’ low wage economy has left millions of people stuck on low pay, or unable to get enough work to pay the bills. The average wage has fallen more than £1,600 per year, 3.5 million people want to work more hours, and the number of people paid less than a living wage has risen to nearly five million, driving up the benefits bill and leading to more Tory Welfare Waste.
"Meanwhile young people aren’t getting the support they need to make the most of their talents and help our country earn its way out of the cost-of-living crisis.
"A Labour government will support the creation of more good jobs by backing wealth-creating small businesses and will bring in a Compulsory Jobs Guarantee to get the long-term unemployed off benefits and into work. We will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, boost apprenticeships, raise the minimum wage to £8 hour and get more workers paid a living wage."