31 Mar 2017
New National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) rates are set to come into effect from 1 April.
The NLW, which applies to those aged 25 and over, is set to rise from its current rate of £7.20 to £7.50 an hour, whilst the NMW rate for individuals aged between 21 and 24 will increase to £7.05 from its current rate of £6.95.
Workers aged 18 to 20 will see their hourly rate rise to £5.60 from £5.55, and the rate for those aged under 18 will rise by 5p to £4.05 from £4.00.
Apprentices stand to benefit from a 10p increase from £3.40 to £3.50 per hour.
Commenting on the wage rises, Bryan Sanderson, Chair of the Low Pay Commission (LPC), said: ‘The minimum wage increases on 1 April will bring another year of substantial pay rises for the lowest paid. The minimum wage will cover more workers than ever, and ripple effects mean that the benefits could affect people earning above the minimum as well.’
However, Mr Sanderson acknowledged that businesses may experience added pressure. He stated: ‘Accompanying pay increases, there will inevitably be pressure for employers. These are turbulent times and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.’
From April, the government will align the NMW cycle with that of the NLW. This means that any future NMW increases will occur in April of each year, instead of October.