Two Low Pay Commissioners will visit Wales on a fact-finding visit about the National Minimum Wage on Wednesday 30 June. Margaret Prosser and Ian Hay will visit two hair salons, a day nursery and a cleaning company in Cardiff to find out how the minimum wage has affected them.

Low Pay Commissioner Ian Hay said: " We want to hear at first hand what impact the National Minimum Wage is having on businesses and on employees and welcome the opportunity to hear how it has affected people in Cardiff."

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 five 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 Europe; Professor William Brown CBE, Professor of Industrial Relations, University of Cambridge; John Cridland, Deputy Director-General, CBI; Paul Gates OBE, General Secretary, KFAT; 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 there should be further increases to £4.85 and £4.10 from 1 October 2004. A minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds of £3.00 an hour will also be introduced in October 2004.

Low Pay Commission
Lower Ground Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Tel. 020 7215 6052