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date: 12 May 2009

embargo: For immediate release

TUC welcomes modest minimum wage boost - but low paid must have more next year

Commenting on the Low Pay Commission's (LPC) report and announcement today (Tuesday) that the adult minimum wage will increase by 7 pence to £5.80 an hour (1.2 per cent) from October 2009, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'Low paid workers will be relieved to see a further increase in the minimum wage this year. The Low Pay Commission was right to withstand pressure from business to freeze the minimum wage.

'The recession was caused by very highly paid people damaging the nation's financial system. It would not have been fair to force the low paid to suffer a freeze in wages, while the city bankers still get their bonuses.

'But this increase is a very slender one. The LPC must be much more generous when the economy recovers next year.'

The TUC also welcomed the commitment to reduce the age at which the adult rate is paid to 21 next year. Brendan Barber said: 'There is no doubt at all that 21 year olds should be treated as adults at work. In order to reflect the real worth of young workers the LPC will need to reduce the threshold further in future years.'

The TUC was disappointed by the Government's delay in considering the introduction of a national minimum wage special rate for apprentices. Brendan Barber said: 'The LPC was right to recommend that apprentices should be protected by the minimum wage from next year.

'The Government should reconsider delaying this and ask the LPC to start examining a new minimum wage special rate for apprentices as soon as possible.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The LPC has today announced that the minimum wage rates will increase from 1 October 2009 (see table below):

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 12 May 2009