Higher wages are the route to stronger growth and rising living standards – TUC

Responding to the announcement of the Low Pay Commission Remit 2026, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: 

“The Government has rightly recognised that higher wages are the route to stronger growth and rising living standards.  

“It is essential that the National Minimum Wage does not fall below the reference point of two-thirds of median hourly earnings set by the Government.

And on the National Minimum Wage for people aged 18 to 20 years old, Paul added:

“Abolishing discriminatory youth rates was a key plank of Labour’s manifesto and it is welcome the Government re-iterated its commitment today. 

“Youth rates are not only unfair, but they’re also increasingly obsolete as most businesses hardly use them. 

“Evidence has shown time and again that the minimum wage can be raised without negative impacts on employment. 

“Youth unemployment is a serious issue that deserves real solutions, like stronger employment rights, an ambitious jobs guarantee and quality apprenticeships – not doomsday scaremongering and misleading claims about the minimum wage.

“The Low Pay Commission are the trusted experts and should be trusted to finish the job, setting out a plan to abolish the minimum wage youth rates this Parliament.”

ENDS