Minimum wage put up by government

02/10/2008

The national minimum wage has been increased once more.

Under the new system, first announced by prime minister Gordon Brown in March, the smallest hourly rate a UK worker aged 22 or over can get paid is £5.73, up from £5.52.

For 18 to 22-year-olds, the wage has gone from £4.60 to £4.77, while 16 and 17-year-olds will now be paid a minimum of £3.53, up from £3.40.

The government also plans to introduce £5,000 fines for employers found to be paying less than the legal limit, in order to further strengthen the wage requirements.

This new legislation is scheduled for next April.

Employment relations minister Pat McFadden said: "The minimum wage has made a lasting and significant difference to the low paid, with around a million workers benefiting from the increase each year.
"It is vital that we safeguard this right with effective enforcement, which is why we're bringing in tough new penalties for those who flout the law."

The national minimum wage was first introduced in 1999, with the legal limit for over-22s standing at £3.60 per hour.

Tags; Current UK Economy, Young Family Finances, Credit Card Lifestyle, Recent Graduate Debt,

• Share
• 
• 
• Store
• 
• Follow
•