16 March 2004 - The National Minimum Wage Success Story
Commenting on yesterday's (Monday) announcement that the National Minimum Wage is set to rise from £4.50 to £4.85 in October, and that from the autumn there is to be a £3 National Minimum Wage for 16 and 17 year olds, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
"The
National Minimum Wage success story has defied the doom-mongers who said it
would cost millions of jobs. Since it was launched five years ago the number
of people benefiting from the Minimum Wage has at least doubled and
employment has reached record levels.
"Unions will be pleased that their campaign for a
minimum hourly rate for young people is going to pay-off for 50,000 low paid
teenagers. This will cut out the worst examples of wage exploitation, and
the £3 introductory rate should mean that more significant increases can
take place in future years."
The Government also announced that the rate for 18-21 year olds is to rise
from £3.80 to £4.10.
