New minimum wage set for October

The national minimum wage will rise by 7 pence in October. The Low Pay Commission has set a new NMW for adults of £5.80, with the rate for 18-21 year-olds rising to £4.83 and for 16-17 year-olds to £3.57 an hour. The government has also accepted a Low Pay Commission recommendation that the adult rate should be extended to 21-year-olds from October 2010.

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, said: “The Low Pay Commission was right to withstand pressure from business to freeze the minimum wage. But this increase is a very slender one. The LPC must be much more generous when the economy recovers next year.” He also called again on the government to include apprentices in the minimum wage.