| The Government announced today that national minimum wage is to rise by 12p an hour to £6.31 for those over 21 and by 5p to £5.03 for 18-to-20-year-olds from October 2013.
The increase is below the current rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, which stands at 2.8%.
Business secretary Vince Cable said the Government accepted the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission.
However, although the Commission said the rate for apprentices should be frozen, Mr Cable said it would rise by 3p to £2.68 an hour. | 1 October 2013 | 1 October 2012 | | Aged 21 or over | £6.31 | £6.19 | | Aged 18 - 20 | £5.03 | £4.98 | | Aged 16 - 17 (above school leaving age but under 18) | £3.72 | £3.68 | | Apprentice rate aged under 19 or in their first year | £2.68 | £2.65 | |