National Minimum Wage Rise

The Government has recently announced that from the 1st October 2007 the National Minimum Wage rate is to rise from £5.35 to £5.52 an hour (for workers aged 22 and over). The rate for workers aged 18 to 21 years will rise from £4.45 to £4.60 per hour while the development rate for workers aged 16 to 17 will rise to £3.40 (from £3.30).

It is estimated that these increases will affect up to 1.3 million workers. Although the rates have risen for the eighth consecutive year, they have still been criticized by Unions who feel that the government should commit itself to increases well above the rate of inflation.