Minimum wage to increase next week
9:50am Friday 28th September 2007
MILLIONS of workers will benefit from an increase in the national minimum wage and extra paid holidays from next week.
The adult minimum wage rate will rise from Monday from £5.35 to £5.52 an hour and from £4.45 to £4.60 an hour for 18-22-year-olds.
The rate for 16 and 17-year-olds will go up from £3.30 to £3.40 an hour.
Meanwhile, statutory paid leave will increase from Monday from 20 days a year to 24 days.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Monday's minimum wage increase will provide a much-needed boost to the pay packets of millions of low-paid workers.
"Unions would have liked a bigger increase but at this level there is nothing for businesses to complain about. The UK economy can easily afford a larger minimum wage increase next year."