By Peter Lazenby
March 27, 2020
AN INCREASE in the minimum wage will go ahead on April 1, the government confirmed today – despite a think tank’s opposition to the measure in the light of the coronavirus outbreak.
The right-leaning Institute for Fiscal Studies had questioned whether a rise in the statutory minimum hourly rate from £8.21 to £8.72 “still makes sense” given the chaos caused by Covid-19.
But even after the increase the minimum wage will remain below the Living Wage Foundation’s target of £10.75 in London and £9.30 elsewhere — figures based on the minimum a worker needs to get by.