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25/02/2005
Minimum wage set to increase in NI
Minister for Social Development John Spellar has announced an increase in the national minimum wage for Northern Ireland in line with that announced for the UK.
The adult rate of the minimum wage will increase from £4.85 to £5.05 in October this year - in line with average earnings - with a further six per cent increase to £5.35 in October 2006.
The new rates will come as good news to around 1.3 million low paid workers throughout the UK and in particular to around 10% of the Northern Irish work force who are currently being paid at minimum wage level.
Commenting on the news, Citizens Advice, which operates the National Minimum Wage Helpline for Northern Ireland, said: “Citizens Advice is pleased to see a further rise in the National Minimum Wage rates, following the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations.
“However, the increasing number of calls that we receive at the helpline demonstrate that there are still many people in Northern Ireland not receiving the correct rates.”
Since its introduction in September 2001 the Helpline has received over 9,000 calls, while the Inland Revenue Compliance team in Northern Ireland have investigated over 1750 employers and identified £1.5 million of arrears for underpaid workers.
(MB/SP)
The adult rate of the minimum wage will increase from £4.85 to £5.05 in October this year - in line with average earnings - with a further six per cent increase to £5.35 in October 2006.
The new rates will come as good news to around 1.3 million low paid workers throughout the UK and in particular to around 10% of the Northern Irish work force who are currently being paid at minimum wage level.
Commenting on the news, Citizens Advice, which operates the National Minimum Wage Helpline for Northern Ireland, said: “Citizens Advice is pleased to see a further rise in the National Minimum Wage rates, following the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations.
“However, the increasing number of calls that we receive at the helpline demonstrate that there are still many people in Northern Ireland not receiving the correct rates.”
Since its introduction in September 2001 the Helpline has received over 9,000 calls, while the Inland Revenue Compliance team in Northern Ireland have investigated over 1750 employers and identified £1.5 million of arrears for underpaid workers.
(MB/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Mostly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain reaching parts of Antrim and Down later this evening, The showers will extend westwards overnight, clearing from most places by morning. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
