National minimum wage rates set to rise in october

National Minimum Wage rates are set to increase in October 2014, the government has confirmed. The adult minimum wage will rise by 19p to £6.50 per hour; the 18-20 wage will rise by 10p to £5.13; the under-18 wage will rise by 7p to £3.79 and the apprentice wage will rise by 5p to £2.73 (for under 19s and for the first year). National Hairdressers Federation chief executive Hilary Hill comments:

For a labour-intensive, relatively low-wage industry such as hairdressing, we are disappointed the government has gone ahead with an above-inflation rise in the national minimum wage. "But we do welcome the fact the government has moved quickly to accept the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations, and therefore provided much-needed clarity for small businesses as to what to expect from this autumn. "This means salons now have time to start preparing for the change – and we will, of course, be working closely with our members to assist them in making sure they are, and stay, compliant come October. "More widely, the feedback from our members is that outside London and the south east the economic recovery remains fragile and patchy. Our fear is that having to find these extra wages will act as a brake on their recovery, their growth prospects and, most importantly, limit their ability and appetite to recruit and retain employees.”

New national minimum wage rates will come into effect on 1 October 2014. Full hourly minimum wages are as follows: Adults - £6.50 up 19p from £6.31 18-20 - £5.13 up 10p from £5.03 Under 18 - £3.79 up 7p from £3.72 Apprentices - £2.73 up 5p from £2.68 (under 19s and for first year)