A national minimum wage

A national minimum wage of £3 an hour is to be introduced for from October for 16-and 17-year-olds, following recommendations from the Low Pay Commission. Wages for 18-to 21-year-olds will rise to Pounds 4.10 an hour and for adults £4.85 an hour. However, apprentices under the age of 19 will remain exempt from minimum wage. Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt said, 'We do not want to discourage employers from offering training places, which is why apprentices are excluded from the new youth rate.' But she added, 'There is a good case for improving the financial support available to apprentices...