National minimum wage: onwards and upwards in 2006?

With the national minimum wage having increased by more than 40% since its April 1999 introduction, some commentators argue that further inflation-busting increases will prove unsustainable for many employers, particularly in retail. Sarah Dennis investigates.

  • Onwards and upwards? The 2006 national minimum wage    Writing in IRS Employment Review, Sarah Dennis rounds up the views of employers' organisations and trade unions. Particular consideration is given to the as yet undetermined recommendation for the wage floor for 16- and 17-year old workers.

  • Large minimum wage increases damaging to retail, says report    IRS Employment Review looks at new research from the British Retail Consortium, which argues that the minimum wage has reached the 'tipping point', and is now adversely affecting all sizes of retail employers.

  • National minimum wage is expected to rise to £5.35    HR & Compliance Centre reports.

    Also

    Employers have mixed feelings on minimum wage   More than 90% of employers agree with last year's minimum wage rise, although 25% are concerned that above-inflation increases are leading to difficulties in maintaining pay differentials, according to IRS research.

    National minimum wage: the state of play   Over one million adult workers are now protected by the national minimum wage in the UK and, for the first time, around 45,000 young workers aged 16 and 17 are covered by the new young persons' rate, according to the DTI.

    European minimum wage levels surveyed   The majority of EU member states have a statutory minimum wage, while in many other countries, collective bargaining at sectoral level sets binding minimum rates of pay.

    The minimum wage debate across Europe   European Industrial Relations Review examines the debate surrounding the introduction, implementation and uprating of the statutory minimum wage in European countries.