THE NATIONAL LIVING WAGE was increased by 6.2% on 1st April, increasing the hourly rate of our lowest paid workers from £8.21 to £8.72. The new rate applies to those over the age of 25 and is worth an extra £995 a year to a full-time worker. The National Minimum Wage increased by 6.5% to £8.20 an hour for those aged 21-24, increased by 4.9% to £6.45 an hour for those aged 18-20 and increased by 4.6% to £4.55 an hour for those under 18. The rate for apprentices increased by 6.4% to £4.15 per hour.
Welcoming the increases Central Devon MP Mel Stride said:
“The introduction of the National Living Wage in 2015 and above inflation rises each year since then has had a major impact on the take home pay of our lowest paid workers, reducing the proportion of workers on low pay to the lowest levels since modern records began 40 years ago.”
Alongside the increase in the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage, labour market reforms came into effect on 6 April. These include Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay, implementing a statutory right to a minimum of 2 weeks’ leave for all employed parents if they lose a child under the age of 18, or suffer a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy. This is the most generous offer on parental bereavement leave and pay in the world. Workers will also receive a day-one statement of rights, which will set out leave and pay entitlements to around 1.5 million people for the first time. A legal loophole which enables some firms to pay agency workers less than permanent staff has been closed and new agency workers will benefit from a key facts page before signing up with an agency, which will provide clarity on their rights, particularly around their pay.
