21/06/2010 - National minimum wage to increase
The national minimum wage for adults is to increase to £5.93 an hour from October, the Government has announced.
The 13p rise is "appropriate for the economic climate", a minister said.
Increases proposed by Labour of 9p for 18 to 20-year-olds to £4.92 and a 7p rise for 16 and 17-year-olds to £3.64 will also come into force.
Furthermore, the Government has asked the Low Pay Commission to look at the competitiveness of small businesses and the employment prospects of young people when laying out next year's remit recommendations.
Employment Rrelations minister Edward Davey said: "The increases to the national minimum wage this year are appropriate for the economic climate. They will strike a balance between helping the lowest paid whilst at the same time not jeopardising their employment.
"The Low Pay Commission estimates that around 970,000 people stand to benefit from these increases. Workers on the minimum wage are disproportionately likely to be employed by small firms and so it is right the Low Pay Commission considers their competitiveness when they make their recommendations for next year."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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