Minimum wage to rise to £6.08 an hour

Minimum wage to rise to £6.08 an hour

The national minimum wage is to rise to £6.08 an hour in October, following recommendations from the Low Pay Commission (LPC), the Government has announced.

The following rates will come into effect on 1 October 2011: 

• The adult rate will increase by 15p to £6.08 an hour;
• The rate for 18-20 year olds will increase by 6p to £4.98 an hour;
• The rate for 16-17 year olds will increase by 4p to £3.68 an hour; and
• The rate for apprentices will increase by 10p to £2.60 an hour. 

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "More than 890,000 of Britain’s lowest-paid workers will gain from these changes.

"They are appropriate - reflecting the current economic uncertainty while at the same time protecting the UK’s lowest-paid workers.

"I would like to thank the LPC for doing a good job in difficult circumstances."

Chairman of the LPC David Norgrove said: "We welcome the Government's acceptance of our recommendations.

"The Commission was again unanimous, despite all the economic uncertainties.

"We believe we have struck the right balance between the needs of low-paid workers and the challenges faced by businesses."