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Minimum wage: The Low Pay Commission backs a 3% increase Minimum wage: Low Pay Commission backs a 3% increase
(35 minutes later)
The Low Pay Commission has recommended a 3% increase in the minimum wage to £6.50 an hour for adults, Business Secretary Vince Cable has told MPs. The Low Pay Commission has recommended a 3% increase in the minimum wage to £6.50 an hour for adults.
Mr Cable said it would be the first increase in real terms since 2008 if the government accepts the proposal. It would be the first increase in real terms since 2008, if the government accepts the proposal.
"It is faster than inflation and that is the first time in six years that has happened," he said. The commission said it had to balance increased costs for businesses against doing more to help the lowest paid.
General secretary of the Unite Union, Len McCluskey said: "This increase is a slap in the face for low paid workers." But it said the economic recovery justified the move, and that if it continued, 2014 would mark a "new phase" of larger increases.
"Provided the economy continues to improve, we expect to recommend further progressive real increases in the value of the minimum wage, restoring and then surpassing its previous highest level, so that 2014 will mark the start of a new phase - of bigger increases than in recent years," said commission chairman, David Norgrove.
Above inflation
According to his report, the proposed rise would increase the number of jobs covered by the minimum wage by more than a third, to about 1.25 million.
Since the economic downturn the minimum wage has risen faster than other wages, the commission noted.
But its real value, like average wages, has fallen because it has been exceeded by the cost of living.
Telling MPs about the proposed rise, Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "It is faster than inflation and that is the first time in six years that has happened."
Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna MP welcomed the commission's recommendations.
"Labour said last year that we need to see above-inflation rises in the minimum wage to restore the value lost over recent years," he added.
'Insult'
TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "This is a welcome increase in the minimum wage, which starts to recover some of the ground it has lost since 2008.
"We hope this is the first in a series of bolder increases that will give real help to the low paid, and not just a pre-election boost."
However, the plans have not been universally well received.
The general secretary of the Unite Union, Len McCluskey, called it a "slap in the face for low paid workers."
At present, the minimum wage is £6.31 an hour for adults and £5.03 an hour for 18 to 20-year-olds.At present, the minimum wage is £6.31 an hour for adults and £5.03 an hour for 18 to 20-year-olds.
Mr McCluskey said "An hourly rise of 19p for adults is an insult when the minimum cost of living has increased by a staggering 25% since the beginning of the economic crisis." Mr McCluskey added: "An hourly rise of 19p for adults is an insult when the minimum cost of living has increased by a staggering 25% since the beginning of the economic crisis."
The government usually accepts the Low Pay Commission's recommendations.
In January Chancellor George Osborne told the BBC "I believe Britain can afford an above-inflation increase in the minimum wage, so we restore its real value for people, and so we have a recovery for all, and work always pays."
Cautious welcomeCautious welcome
However, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "This is a welcome increase in the minimum wage, which starts to recover some of the ground it has lost since 2008.
"We hope this is the first in a series of bolder increases that will give real help to the low paid, and not just a pre-election boost."
Several employers' organisations, the EEF, the CBI and the Forum of Private Business gave the recommendations a cautious welcome.Several employers' organisations, the EEF, the CBI and the Forum of Private Business gave the recommendations a cautious welcome.
The British Chambers of Commerce has surveyed its member companies on their attitude towards raising the minimum wage.The British Chambers of Commerce has surveyed its member companies on their attitude towards raising the minimum wage.
Its Executive Director of Policy Dr Adam Marshall said: "After years of pay restraint, companies now feel somewhat more confident when it comes to the question of pay. Its Executive Director of Policy, Dr Adam Marshall, said: "After years of pay restraint, companies now feel somewhat more confident when it comes to the question of pay.
"So while the Low Pay Commission's recommendation appears to be slightly higher than many employers had hoped, it represents a reasonable compromise.""So while the Low Pay Commission's recommendation appears to be slightly higher than many employers had hoped, it represents a reasonable compromise."
The government usually accepts the Low Pay Commission's recommendations.
In January Chancellor George Osborne told the BBC he thought Britain could afford an above-inflation increase.
The commission's recommendations, which would apply from 1 October this year, also include an increase of 2% for workers aged 18-20 to £5.13 an hour.
Those aged 16-17 would see an increase of just under 2%, to £3.79 an hour.