01/10/2007

Wage Boost For NI Employees

Employees in Northern Ireland benefit from a rise in the minimum wage from Monday October 1.

Workers over 22 will now receive at least £5.52 an hour - an increase if 17 pence an hour.

Workers Aged 18 to 21 who were on £4.45 will get an increase to £4.60 and those aged 16 to 17 will get £3.40 from today.

The government has a wage calculator at http://www.worksmart.org.uk/minwage_calc.php to help employees check that they are receiving the correct pay rate.

Last week the Department for Employment and Learning has implemented new Regulations that increase the statutory minimum holiday entitlement from four weeks to 4.8 weeks, equivalent to an increase from 20 days to 24 days a year for those working 5 days a week (pro-rata for part-time workers).

A further increase, from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks (24 days to 28 days a year, pro-rata), will be implemented from 1 April 2009.

(SP)

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