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Business group backs appropriate minimum wage rise

Jul 22 2008

The majority of SME owners will be happy with the increases in the minimum wage because they are in line with inflation, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) claims.

Spokesperson for the group Simon Briault says that the FSB is in essence in favour of the minimum wage as it prevents unscrupulous employers from undercutting competitors.

He praises the Low Pay Commission's 'sensible' approach to the minimum wage, which has seen smaller rises in the standard than when it was first established.

'The low pay commission seems to have come round to a more stable approach to increases in the minimum wage very much along the line of inflation, and that's something that we think most small businesses are happy with,' Briault adds.

Starting from October, the national minimum wage is set to increase from £5.52 to £5.73 per hour for people aged over 22 and from £4.60 to £4.77 for young workers aged between 18 and 21.

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