Minimum wage increase

The national minimum wage rose to £5.73 per hour (from £5.52) for workers aged 22 or more on 1 October. The rates for 18-21 year-olds and 16-17 year-olds are £4.77 and £3.53 respectively. According to the TUC one million workers will benefit, two-thirds of whom are women. This rise is the ninth since the NMW was introduced in 1999.