Minimum wage up by 7p

14/05/2009

The government has approved a seven pence increase in the National Minimum Wage.

As of October, low-paid workers over the age of 22 will receive £5.80 an hour, up from the current rate of £5.73 per hour.

The move follows a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission and will see 18 to 21-year-olds receive £4.83 an hour, with 16 and 17-year-olds earning a minimum of £3.53.

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said that this decision will help those Brits struggling as a result of the recession.

However, the TUC said that workers on a lower income should be given more help next year if the overall economy shows signs of a recovery.

"The recession was caused by very highly paid people damaging the nation's financial system," he said.

"It would not have been fair to force the low paid to suffer a freeze in wages, while the city bankers still get their bonuses."

Tags; Income Worries and Debt,

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