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Commenting on today's (Monday) new national minimum wage rates, announced by the Business Secretary Vince Cable this morning, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

date: 15 April 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on today's (Monday) new national minimum wage rates, announced by the Business Secretary Vince Cable this morning, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'Boosting the incomes of the low paid goes straight into the economy and wage-led growth must be part of the recovery so we would have liked to have seen minimum wage rates go up further today, even if the government has rightly rejected calls for a freeze.

'But we are pleased that ministers have increased the apprenticeship rate. This sends a positive signal about the importance of apprentices.

'We will continue to press ministers for more action to ensure the minimum wage is properly enforced - particularly for apprentices where there is considerable evidence that many miss out. It is time to get tough with wage-cheat employers who break this law.

'And we will continue to urge the many employers who can afford it to implement a full living wage for their staff.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

National minimum wage rates from October 2013

Current rate

Rate from October 2013

Per cent increase

Adults aged 21 and above

£6.19

£6.31

1.9

18 - 20 year olds

£4.98

£5.03

1.0

16 year olds above school leaving age and 17 year olds

£3.68

£3.72

1.0

Apprentices under the age of 19 and older apprentices in the first year of apprenticeship (other apprentices are eligible for the relevant age-based rate of the NMW)

£2.65

£2.68

1.0

- The new rates apply to the first pay reference period on or after October 2013

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

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk

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