The introduction of a national living wage will leave young people thousands of pounds poorer than older colleagues doing the same job, a Dundee MSP has warned.
Joe FitzPatrick said new research showed that under-18s, who are only eligible for the national minimum wage, would be almost £6,500 a year worse off under the new budget.
The SNP MSP also said apprentices would earn £7,605 less than their older colleagues.
“Young people in Dundee and across Scotland are already hardest hit by the budget. Now we know that they will earn thousands less than colleagues doing the same job,” Mr FitzPatrick said.
“Apprentices, already discriminated against by UK national minimum wage policy, will now earn £7,605 less than the national living wage.
“These young people, who are contributing to our economy, should be paid a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, the same as any other worker.”
New analysis from the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre shows that under-18s on the national minimum wage will earn £6,493.50 less than people over 25 who will be eligible for the new national living wage.
The research also shows that 18-20 year-olds will earn £3,705 less, while apprentices will earn £7,605 less.
Mr Fitzpatrick said more should be done to tackle pay divides.
He added: “The Scottish Government is an accredited living wage employer and pays all staff covered by their pay policy a living wage.
“The First Minister has also set the ambitious goal of having 500 accredited living wage employers by March 2016 and already 300 companies have signed up.
“We will continue to make the strong case for the devolution of employment policy and the national minimum wage in the Scotland Bill, so we can extend the Scottish Government’s progressive approach to pay, reduce inequalities and grow our economy.”
HM Treasury has defended the introduction of the living wage, which it claims will boost the earnings of 2.7 million low-wage workers and will mean that a worker on the national minimum wage in 2015 will earn £5,200 per year more in cash terms by 2020.