"Ministers are considering slowing down plans to pay adults of all ages the same minimum wage. Labour committed in their election manifesto to remove "discretionary age bands" and increase the wages of 18 to 20-year-olds so they are paid the same as those over 21. But government sources have confirmed ministers are interested in delaying that rise, though are unlikely to reverse the commitment entirely."
"Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, UK government's Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said it remained government policy to equalise minimum wage. On Tuesday, it was confirmed unemployment had risen to a near five-year high, with the jobless rate among young people at its worst level for more than a decade. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment rose to 5.2% in the three months to December, up from 5.1% in the three months to November."
Ministers are considering slowing the timetable for equalising the minimum wage. Labour pledged to remove "discretionary age bands" and raise wages for 18 to 20-year-olds to match those over 21. Government sources say ministers may delay the rise but will likely keep the commitment. The government maintains equalising the minimum wage as policy. Unemployment rose to 5.2% in the three months to December, with the youth jobless rate at its worst in over a decade. Under current rules people aged over 21 must be paid 12.21 an hour while 18 to 20-year-olds receive 10; some business figures argue higher minimum wages have increased costs and deterred hiring.
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