The Government is pointing to new survey
data showing the Minimum Wage is having
a real impact across Britain. The Spring
2000 figures indicate that the gap
between the highest and lowest earners
and between men’s and women’s pay is
closing. It also shows that the average
hourly earnings for women has increased
by 3%, and for men by 2% in the past
year.
Secretary for Trade and
Industry, Stephen Byers, says:
“All this has been achieved without a
negative impact on the economy. Gloom
merchants who told us we could not
increase pay of hundreds of thousands of
the lowest paid workers without costing
jobs and causing inflation have been
proven well and truly wrong.”
The statistics were put together by
ONS during the period when the National
Minimum Wage Rates were lower. They have
now been set at £3.70 an hour
(previously £3.60) for adults and £3.20
an hour (previously £3.00) for workers
under 22 and those on accredited
training in the first six months of
their job.
The Interactive
Law Group