A blind teenager and his pregnant girlfriend are working for the equivalent of 75 pence an hour each at a Bradford minicab firm.

Today, Bradford North Labour MP Terry Rooney described their situation as "slave labour" and pledged to help.

He said: "This is the reason why we need a minimum wage to get rid of this unscrupulous behaviour."

Imran Arshad, 19, and Michelle Hancock, 20, both of Leeds Road, Bradford, now want to start a campaign to improve work and pay for disabled people.

The couple share a £1.50 an hour wage. Mr Arshad mans the phones and Miss Hancock records jobs at Broadway private hire firm in Bradford Lane.

They earn £31.50 for working 21 hours from 9am to 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Added to their benefits, they live off just over £100 per week.

Today, a TUC report exposes three other job roles - security officers, care assistants and truck drivers - as being notoriously underpaid with many earning between just £1.50 and £2 an hour.

But the manager of Broadway private hire, Yousaf Shah defended the wage he pays saying all workers were paid the same.

He said: "Imran is aware of the pay and all controllers are paid the same wage."

"The rate is £1.50 and it is for him only, but he needs his girlfriend to write out the jobs - so they share the wage. We have given him a chance to work and he is a good worker."

Mr Arshad, who was born blind, said he had applied for 200 jobs before he was taken on by the minicab firm.

"This is the first job I've had since leaving college two years ago," said Mr Arshad, who urged people to join his campaign for fair wages for disabled people.

A spokesman for the Yorkshire and Humberside Low Pay Unit said his wage was "exceptionally low".

The Government intends to introduce a minimum wage which is likely to be about £3.50 an hour.

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