Hmm you’re really giving me some food for thought there. Instead of allowance as wages, why not as reward for contributing to collective☭, ehem, common good?
You know, like being a responsible citizen?
But, eh, it’s not like I am planning to have kids anyway 😛
On this wage equalisation thing, me being more of a center left, don’t really see it can work.
But ensuring that even the most lowly paid worker can afford getting fed, clothed, and (Arrrgh!) housed is crucial!
Also, workers having a voice in the operations is important. Not necessarily to give unions overarching power on the whole operations, but at least workers should be given a platform where we can voice our concerns to the management as equals. Let us feel like we matter and our opinions respected?
Like example, the Germans. Their corporations and unions have a more symbiotic relationship, and in return they get some of the most productive workforce in the world.
Meanwhile, in my home country Malaysia, unions are almost nonexistent, while employers have their own special interest group. Worker motivation is low, employee-employer trust is shit, wages is largely stagnant for at least 30 years etc. Result? Our productivity and innovation level is pathetic.