Minimum wage rises expected in April Budget

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 08:58 · Archive

The minimum wage for workers aged 18 to 20 is expected to rise by 3.9% to £11.27 an hour from April, with the rate for over-21s rising to £13.20.

The minimum wage is expected to rise in the Budget, though younger workers could receive a smaller increase than in previous years. The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds is expected to increase by 3.9% from £10.85 to around £11.27 an hour. The National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over is expected to rise from £12.71 to £13.20 an hour, also a 3.9% increase.

The government has not yet confirmed the rates, which are expected to be announced as part of Chancellor John Healey's Budget. The reported increases would come after the government increased the rate by a combined 26% since returning to power in 2024.

The rises reflect Labour's manifesto pledge to move towards a single minimum wage for all adults by removing what it called 'discriminatory age bands'. However, the prospect of younger workers continuing to receive a lower hourly rate than their older colleagues has drawn criticism from unions.

Andrea Egan, general secretary of Unison, said it was 'deeply unfair' to pay different rates for the same job. 'Twenty year-old care workers, teaching assistants and security guards do the same work as their older colleagues,' she said. 'They don't pay less in the supermarket or at the petrol pump. They must be paid equally.'

The Budget announcement is part of the government's broader measures designed to give families 'breathing space' with the cost of living.

How it is being reported

• Budget Minimum Wage rise - how much workers could get paid from AprilThe Chancellor is expected to announce new minimum wage rates in the Budget. Find out how much younger workers and those aged 21 and over could earn.Swindon Advertiser · 28 Oct, 08:00
• Budget Minimum Wage rise - how much workers could get paid from AprilThe Chancellor is expected to announce new minimum wage rates in the Budget. Find out how much younger workers and those aged 21 and over could earn.This Is Wiltshire · 28 Oct, 08:00
• Budget Minimum Wage rise - how much workers could get paid from AprilThe Chancellor is expected to announce new minimum wage rates in the Budget. Find out how much younger workers and those aged 21 and over could earn.Gazette & Herald · 28 Oct, 08:00
• Budget Minimum Wage rise - how much workers could get paid from AprilThe Chancellor is expected to announce new minimum wage rates in the Budget. Find out how much younger workers and those aged 21 and over could earn.Wiltshire Times · 28 Oct, 08:00

In this story: Chancellor John Healey · Unison · Andrea Egan · Labour

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log