/hr11th April 2011: The Government has accepted the independent Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations for this year’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates.
The following rates will come into effect on 1st October 2011: The adult rate will increase by 15p to £6.08 an hour; the rate for 18-20 year olds will increase by 6p to £4.98 an hour; the rate for 16-17 year olds will increase by 4p to £3.68 an hour; and the rate for apprentices will increase by 10p to £2.60 an hour.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “More than 890,000 of Britain’s lowest-paid workers will gain from these changes. They are appropriate - reflecting the current economic uncertainty while at the same time protecting the UK’s lowest-paid workers.”
He thanked the LPC “for doing a good job in difficult circumstances.”
Chairman of the LPC David Norgrove welcomed the Government’s acceptance of their recommendations. “The Commission was again unanimous, despite all the economic uncertainties. We believe we have struck the right balance between the needs of low-paid workers and the challenges faced by businesses.”
The government will invite the LPC in its next report to consider the best way to give business greater clarity on future levels of the National Minimum Wage, including consideration of two-year recommendations. This could provide greater certainty for businesses, reduce risks and help them plan employment and investment decisions.
6th April 2011: As the annual immigration cap for workers from outside the EU comes into force, Immigration Minister Damian Green has made it clear that firms should look to hire unemployed Britons.
Green said they have made clear that as the recovery continues, they need employers to look first to people who are out of work and who are already in this country.
Green said they were overhauling all routes of entry to tackle abuses, make the system more effective and bring net migration back down to the tens of thousands.
The immigration minister has also claimed the new system was designed in consultation with business.
Entrepreneurs and investors could play a major part in the economic recovery and he wanted to do everything he could to ensure that Britain remains an attractive destination for them.
Last year they issued far too few visas to those who wished to set up a business or invest in the UK. Green said he intend to change that.
Prospective workers would need to have a graduate level job, speak intermediate English and meet specific salary requirements before being able to work in the UK. Anyone earning more than £150,000 would not be subject to the limit.
