Pay rise welcomed as economy is ‘steadily reopened’ and more people get back to work
Increases to the rate of the minimum wage that come in to force today will increase the earnings of 283,000 workers in the South East and that’s good news according to hastings and Rye MP Sally-Ann Hart.
Mrs Hart has welcomed this year’s increases to the ‘National Living Wage’ and ‘National Minimum Wage’ that sees a 2.2 per cent increase in the National Living Wage to £8.91 per hour, the equivalent of more than £345 extra per year for someone working full-time.
For the first time since it came into effect in 2016, more younger people will be eligible for the National Living Wage, as the age threshold is lowered from 25 to 23 years old.
The rise means someone working full time on the National Living Wage from April 2021 will be taking home £5,400 more annually than they were in 2010.
Mrs Hart says the Conservative Government: “…remains committed to the target of the National Living Wage reaching two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, and this increase allows progress to continue to be made towards it.”
Other rate increases include:
- A 2.0 per cent increase for 21-22 year olds, from £8.20 to £8.36 an hour.
- A 1.7 per cent increase for 18-20 year olds, from £6.45 to £6.56 an hour.
- A 1.5 per cent increase for under 18 year olds, from £4.55 to £4.62 an hour.
- A 3.6 per cent increase to the Apprenticeship Wage, from £4.15 to £4.30 an hour.
“These pay increases build on the support the Government has delivered to protect jobs and livelihoods through the pandemic, including protecting 11.2 million jobs through the furlough scheme.”
Mrs Hart says: “This has been an extraordinarily difficult year for workers across Hastings and Rye, but as we recover from the pandemic, this Government is determined to put more money into the pockets of our lowest-paid workers. These increases to the National Living and Minimum Wages will benefit around 283,000 people across the South East, giving them a much needed pay rise as we steadily reopen the economy and get more people back to work.
“This will help to protect the lowest paid and put more money in the pockets of hard-working families – supporting our recovery as we build back better from this pandemic.”
