Approximately one million workers will have benefited now that the national minimum wage (NMW) has increased to £5.73 per hour from Wednesday, 1 October, the TUC says.

Two-thirds of the beneficiaries are women, reinforcing the NMW’s positive role in narrowing the gender pay gap.

The increase in the NMW will also save the taxpayer an extra £245 million in reduced payments of in-work benefits. This week’s 3.8 per cent increase in the NMW (from £5.52 to £5.73) will be the ninth increase since it was introduced in April 1998.

Nicholas Bowers, Partner and Head of Employment Issues and Litigation says of the change, “At Clarke & Son, we welcome this move towards wage equality as it improves the financial position of lower-paid workers.”

For more information on Employment Issues contact Nicholas Bowers direct or telephone: 01256 320 555.