The Isle of Man Trades Union Council is calling for an annual review of the minimum wage on a statutory basis.
It comes as they voice their concerns workers on the lowest incomes will have to choose between food and fuel this winter as details of the next review won’t be announced until October.
Vice-chairman Karl Flint said: ‘We need to have a statutory requirement to address the issue of the minimum wage on a 12-month basis.
‘We are a first world country and despite the problems we are going through at the moment I don’t think it’s acceptable that we are almost burying our heads in the sand and not addressing what I think is a key issue.’
He said the issue should have been addressed in Tynwald before the summer recess: ‘Families are right on the poverty line by the standards of a first world country.
‘We shouldn’t be putting at risk those families and we shouldn’t be putting at risk the children of those families.’
Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly said that, historically, reviews had taken place approximately every 18 months.
‘Working closely with the independent committee and Treasury my aim is to review more regularly,’ he said.
‘Last year we introduced above inflation increase at 3.9 per cent and while appreciating TUC’s desire to have an annual increase in statute we must balance with local business capabilities to absorb.
‘As it is our current rate, £6.65, is higher than the UK at £6.50.’
The UK Government announced in its Budget it intends to introduce a national living wage in April next year.
Mr Skelly told Tynwald last week he would like the minimum wage to rise to a similar level to the living wage, £9.50 per hour in London and £7.85 in the rest of the UK.
But he added that the needs of employees had to be balanced against the needs of employers.
The results of the minimum wage review are due to be presented to the October sitting.
The last increase took effect on October 1 last year.
The previous October saw a 20p rise take effect.