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No minimum wage increase, urges business group

Jan 02 2009

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The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to recommend a zero per cent increase on the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

According to the BCC, an increase would risk adding to unemployment, which it forecasts will reach three million by 2010.

David Frost, director general of the BCC, says: ‘We’re not opposed to the minimum wage going up when employment is high and the economy is doing well, but when jobs are being lost daily and a recession is in full swing, it makes no sense to increase the NMW.’

Businesses would bear the burden of an extra £300 million, if last year’s rise was repeated, the group estimates.

The LPC will make its recommendations for the NMW in March.

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