Progressive Labour Party candidates have pledged the party “will implement the living wage” to benefit the island’s young workers, if the PLP retains power after the October 1 General Election.Jason Hayward, the labour minister, spotlighted the party’s youth platform at Alaska Hall in Hamilton with Jache Adams, the candidate for Pembroke West, and Arianna Hodgson, the contender for Paget West.Mr Hayward declined to give a figure for the living wage, but said the Government would “determine its next step” after it got a report from the Wage Commission. The commission was set up in February to make recommendations on the minimum hourly wage as well as the living wage rate.Mr Adams said the PLP would boost opportunities for younger workers by tasking the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation to create “50 new Bermudian small businesses every year”.He added: “This will mean assisting with start-up grants, financing assistance and business support while supporting the businesses of entrepreneurs through the power of public procurement.”Ms Hodgson said young people had shown “strong energy” in the run-up to the General Election. She added: “I do not think they’re siding with a particular party this time, but they are aware of the issues.”Ms Hodgson said: “I am concerned about a lack of registration among young people and I’m encouraging them to get out and vote.“It’s important. It’s something we didn’t always have the right to do.”The group said young would-be property buyers would be attracted into Hamilton with a government-backed 5 per cent down-payment on apartments for first-time homeowners.New apartment buildings would be Bermudian-built, with construction workers trained through the Youth Employment Strategy. Mr Hayward, 38, emphasised that “we are young people, too”.Mr Adams is 35 and Ms Hodgson is 28.