The latest increase to the minimum wage has upset some employers The national minimum wage for adults will increase by 15 pence from October 2011 to £6.08 an hour, the government has said.
The 2.5% increase was recommended by the independent Low Pay Commission (LPC).
The rate for apprentices will rise by 10p, for 16-17 year-olds by 4p and for 18-20 year-olds by 6p.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said the changes would help more than 890,000 of Britain’s lowest-paid workers.
The LPC was unanimous in its recommendations “despite all the economic uncertainties” according to its chairman, David Norgrove.
The complete set of changes are:
over-20s: up 15p (2.5%) to £6.0818-20 year-olds: up 6p (1.2%) to £4.9816-17 year-olds: up 4p (1.1%) to £3.68apprentices: up 10p to (4%) £2.60.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the changes risked pricing young people out of work when youth unemployment was at a record high.
“The change to the National Minimum Wage rates announced today is the wrong increase, at the wrong time,” said BCC’s David Kern.
“These changes will be a barrier to job creation, and ultimately economic recovery,” he said.
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