名詞解釋：最低工資指勞動(dòng)者在法定工作時(shí)間提供了正常勞動(dòng)的前提下，其雇主(或用人單位)支付的最低金額的勞動(dòng)報(bào)酬。最低工資不包括加班工資、特殊工作環(huán)境、特殊條件下的津貼，最低工資也不包括勞動(dòng)者保險(xiǎn)、福利待遇和各種非貨幣的收入，最低工資應(yīng)以法定貨幣按時(shí)支付。你知道怎么用英語表達(dá)嗎?

　　Chancellor Angela Merkel's government introduced Germany's first nationwide wage floor of 8.50 euros per hour early this year.

　　But in the months since it went into effect, it has become clear that not everyone is taking home more pay.

　　Some employers display an awful lot of creativity to get round paying the minimum wage, for instance, some workers were no longer getting paid for overtime, and others are being charged for drinks and clothing they are required to wear on the job.

　　Unions even report cases of bakeries and a gym giving staff coupons to use on site rather than paying the minimum wage.

　　今年年初，德國(guó)安吉拉•默克爾領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的政府出臺(tái)首個(gè)全國(guó)最低工資標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，為每小時(shí)8.50歐元。

　　但事實(shí)證明，這項(xiàng)法律生效的幾個(gè)月后，并不是每個(gè)人都能拿到更多的工資。

　　為了逃避給員工們支付最低工資，一些雇主真是創(chuàng)意無窮。例如，很多員工加班已經(jīng)不再有加班費(fèi)，還有的員工要為飲料和上班穿的工作服付費(fèi)。

　　工會(huì)甚至報(bào)告聲稱，數(shù)家面包店和一家體育館不給員工發(fā)最低工資，而是用到店使用的優(yōu)惠券代替。

　　【講解】

　　文中的minimum wage就是“最低工資”的意思，其中wage作名詞，意為“工資，報(bào)酬”，多指體力勞動(dòng)者按天或按周領(lǐng)取的工錢，常用于復(fù)數(shù)形式，如：A postman's wages are 180 per week.(郵遞員的工資為每周180英鎊。);而pay是不可數(shù)名詞，意思是“工資，薪水”，指工作所得到的酬金，如：His pay goes up every year.(他的工資每年都有增加。)

　　第三段中的get round是動(dòng)詞短語，在文中表示“繞開，避開”，如：You just can't get round the regulations in this way.(你用這種方法是不能逃避規(guī)章制度約束的。)