New national minimum wage rate sees value cut again

The government has announced a rise in the national minimum wage rates with effect from 1 October 2013.

However, with inflation currently running at 2.8%, these ‘rises’ are effectively a further cut in the value of the national minimum wage.

The new rates will be:

  • £6.31 per hour for those aged 21 and over (a 12p increase  =  or 1.9%)
  • £5.03 per hour for those aged 18 – 20 years (a 5p increase = 1%)
  • £3.72 per hour for those aged 16 – 17 (a 4p increase = 1%)
  • £2.68 per hour for the apprentice rate (a 3p increase = 1%)

UNISON continues to press for an end to the discriminatory age rates, and for raising the minimum wage to a living wage level.

UNISON young members