National Minimum and Living Wage rates increase by £1,000

Glamorgan Star news 01/04/2022

2 minutes read

National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increases today. — National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage is increased.

National Minimum and Living Wage rates increase by £1,000

Around 2.5 million UK workers receive a pay rise, as the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increase
£1,000 a year extra for full time workers following the largest ever uplift to the National Living Wage for workers aged 23 and over.

Millions of UK workers will received a pay rise from 1st April as the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rise came into effect.

The uplift in wages, which will benefit around 2.5 million people, includes the largest ever increase to the National Living Wage. It puts £1,000 a year more into full-time workers’ pay packets, helping to ease cost of living pressures.

UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng MP said: “We have never been more determined to make work pay, and by providing the biggest cash increase ever to the National Living Wage, we are giving a boost to millions of UK workers.

“While no government can control the global factors pushing up the cost of everyday essentials, we will absolutely act wherever we can to mitigate rising costs.

“With more employees on the payroll than ever before, this government will continue to stand up for workers.”

The increase is said to be of particular benefit to workers in sectors such as retail, hospitality and cleaning and maintenance. Apprentices will also get a large 11.9% increase to their minimum hourly pay, with 21-22 year-olds seeing an immediate 9.8% rise. The National Living Wage, the minimum wage for over 23-year-olds, will now move up to £9.50 an hour.

The new National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates are both statutory minimums, and businesses are encouraged to pay workers above these whenever they can afford to do so.

Recent studies show significant benefits for employers who pay their staff higher wages, which includes higher job retention and staff productivity.

In full, the increases are:

Workers across the UK are being urged to check they are being paid properly. This can be done by visiting the Check Your Pay site, which also offers advice on what to do if you are being underpaid.

Many low paid workers are naturally concerned about record increases in global gas prices this year that has seen the Energy Price Cap, set by the independent regulator Ofgem, rise by 54%. Fuel prices have also reached record highs over recently as a rise in oil prices followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. More households are believed to be in fuel poverty as this largest hike in bills comes into effect.

Bryan Sanderson Chair of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) said: “The Business Secretary’s strong support is especially welcome at this difficult time. Workers on the minimum wage; care for our elderly and sick, harvest and deliver our food, and do a multitude of other tasks which help us all.

“Many public sector workers including for example teaching assistants will also shortly be included. They all deserve to be properly remunerated and respected as key members of our society.

“The Low Pay Commission met with around a hundred representative bodies last year before making its recommendations. We are frequently their main sometimes even their only advocates. With government support we will continue to try to ensure that they do not suffer from the neglect which was so often characteristic of the past.”