National Minimum Wage
The Government announced on Wednesday 24th March 2010 that the adult rate of the National Minimum Wage is to rise by 2.2 per cent on 1 October.
The full detail of decisions was announced 25 March. The hourly adult rate (now to start at age 21 instead of 22) rises to £5.93 from £5.80 (+2.2 per cent); the development rate (now for 18, 19 and 20 year olds) rises to £4.92 from £4.83 (+1.9 per cent); the 16 and 17 year old rate rises to £3.64 from £3.57 (+2.0 per cent); there is to be a new minimum rate for apprentices under 19 (and those 19 or more if in the first year of the apprenticeship) of £2.50; and the daily accommodation offset rises again by the same percentage as the headline adult rate (2.2 per cent) to £4.61 from £4.51.