National Minimum Wage Increase
Thursday, 14th May 2009
Government Approves New £5.80 Minimum Wage Rate
The government has announced new National Minimum Wage rates to take effect in October.
* Low paid workers aged 22 and over can look forward to an increase from £5.73 to £5.80 an hour.
* The rate for 18 to 21-year-olds will also rise from £4.77 to £4.83.
* For 16 and 17-year-olds, the rate will go up to £3.57 an hour from £3.53.
Nearly one million people will benefit from October's increase after the government approved recommendations from the independent Low Pay Commission.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said:
"The National Minimum Wage has been in place for 10 years and remains one of the most important rights for workers introduced in that time.
"I am very proud of the difference it has made to the lives of the UK's lowest-paid workers. It protects them from exploitation and also creates a level playing field for business, making a huge contribution to the UK's economic success.
"The Low Pay Commission has carefully examined the latest economic data before making their recommendations on the minimum wage rate, balancing the needs of workers and businesses in the current economic climate.
"The government agrees with this assessment and has accepted the recommendations for these new rates to take effect in October."
The deadline for submission of the Low Pay Commission's (LPC) recommendations to government was extended from February to Friday 1 May to allow Commissioners to take into account the latest possible economic evidence.
As well as the rate changes to take effect this year, the government has accepted an LPC recommendation that the adult rate of the minimum wage should be extended to 21-year-olds. This will be implemented from October 2010.
