Low Pay Commission’s recommends a 3% increase in adult national minimum wage

In response to the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation for a 3% increase in the adult national minimum wage, National Hairdressers’ Federation chief executive Hilary Hall said:

For a labour-intensive, relatively low-wage industry such as hairdressing, the prospect of an above-inflation rise in the national minimum wage will be deeply disappointing. There is an important debate to be had around pay as the economy improves, but the feedback from our members, and what the NHBF stressed to the LPC in its submission, is that outside London and the south east the economic recovery remains fragile and patchy.

“Many high streets, and many small businesses, are still struggling, and having to find these extra wages will act as a brake on their recovery, their growth prospects and, most importantly, their ability and appetite to recruit and retain employees".

“The NHBF and other small business organisations wrote to Mr Osborne earlier this year emphasising the continuing need for wage restraint and urging him to leave decisions about the minimum wage to the assessment of the LPC. We are pleased to see the LPC has considered the evidence rationally, and restricted the increase for Apprentices and young people to a more manageable 2%".

The LPC recommendations are:

(under 19s and for first year)