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Press Release 15 April 2002 LOW PAY COMMISSION WELCOMES GOVERNMENT CONFIRMATION OF INCREASE IN NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE The Low Pay Commission today welcomed the Government’s confirmation that the main rate of the National Minimum Wage will rise to £4.20 per hour, with the rate for young workers rising to £3.60 per hour. The new rates will apply from October 2002, in line with the recommendations in the Commission’s last report. The Chairman of the Low Pay Commission, Professor Sir George Bain said: "Following the recommendations in our last report, the Government increased the main rate of the minimum wage to £4.10 per hour, and the youth rate to £3.50 per hour. In our report, we recommended that there should be a further increase to £4.20 per hour for the main rate and £3.60 per hour for young workers, from October 2002. If the National Minimum Wage is to retain its value as a wage floor for low-paid workers it needs to be uprated regularly. I am delighted that the Government has confirmed that these increases will go ahead." Notes to Editors 1. The Low Pay Commission is a statutory body whose role is to advise the Government on the National Minimum Wage. 2. The Commission has produced four reports. These are available from the Stationery Office Bookshops or the Commission’s website at: http://www.lowpay.gov.uk 3. The members of the Low Pay Commission are: Adair Turner (Chairman), Vice Chairman, Merrill Lynch Holdings Ltd; Professor William Brown CBE, Professor of Industrial Relations, University of Cambridge; David Coats, Head, Economic and Social Affairs Department, Trades Union Congress; John Cridland, Deputy Director-General, Confederation of British Industry; Paul Gates OBE, General Secretary, National Union of Knitwear, Footwear and Apperal Trades; Ian Hay OBE, Chairman, Food Trade Association Management Professor David Metcalf, Professor of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics; Margaret Prosser OBE, Former Deputy General Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union; and Angie Risley, Human Resources Director, Whitbread PLC. 4. The National Minimum Wage for those over 21 is £4.50 per hour. For those aged 18 to 21 or over 21 but in the first six months of a new job with a new employer and receiving accredited training, the rate is £3.80 per hour. The Government has accepted the Commission's recommendation that subject to confirmation in early 2004 - there should be further increases to £4.85 and £4.10 from 1 October 2004. Low Pay Commission Elizabeth House 39 York Road London SE1 7NQ Tel. 020 7855 4553 | |
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