David Williams welcomes an above inflation rise in the minimum wage

“This is a real boost for all low-paid workers in these difficult times”, said David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich.

The Government has today accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation for a 1.5% increase in the top rate of the National Minimum Wage.

David Williams continued, “In this global economic recession it is important that workers do not see their basic employment rights cut or diminished. This announcement means that the minimum wage continues to offer valuable pay protection for the most vulnerable workers in Crewe and Nantwich. It also stops bad employers undercutting good employers by reducing wages.

“Contrast that with the Tories who are proposing to effectively abolish the minimum wage. Their legislation undermines minimum wage regulations and will leave low-paid workers at the mercy of unscrupulous employers.

“I remain firmly committed to the principle of a fair days pay for a fairs days work. The Tories would drive us back to the dark days of the 1980s and 1990s, when many people were paid less than £2 per hour and there was no law to stop it. We must never allow that kind of exploitation again.”

The Government has announced new National Minimum Wage rates to take effect in October.

Low paid workers aged 22 and over can look forward to an increase from £5.73 to £5.80 an hour.

The rate for 18 to 21-year-olds will also rise from £4.77 to £4.83.

For 16 and 17-year-olds, the rate will go up to £3.57 an hour from £3.53.