National Minimum Wage - new rates announced

The new National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates that will come into effect from 1 October 2006 were announced just before the Budget. The adult rate will increase by almost 6%, the development rate by 4.7% and the 16 to 17 year old rate by 10%. These increases far exceed inflation rates.

Existing rate New rate from 1/10/06
Adult Rate (Workers aged 22 and over)
£5.05 £5.35
Development Rate (Workers aged 18-21 and the accredited training rate)
£4.25 £4.45
Workers aged 16-17
£3.00 £3.30

Those businesses that are heavily influenced by these rates can now begin to budget and forecast with certainty for the effects.