The national living wage is the minimum amount per hour that workers in the United Kingdom are legally entitled to be paid. The current national living wage is £7.83 per hour for workers aged 25 and over, and will rise to £8.21 per hour in April 2019. For workers under the age of 25, the minimum hourly rate is lower, and is currently set at £7.38 per hour.
Despite its name, the national living wage is not a “liveable” wage, and many full-time workers on the national living wage still find it difficult to make ends meet. A recent study by the Resolution Foundation found that almost two-thirds of low-paid workers in Britain are struggling to afford basic essentials such as food and heating.
The national living wage is just one of several minimum wage rates in the United Kingdom. There is also a separate minimum wage for workers aged 16-17, which is currently set at £4.20 per hour, and for apprentices, which is £3.70 per hour.
While the national living wage has increased in recent years, it still falls short of what many experts say is a “living wage” – an hourly rate that would enable workers to cover the cost of basic essentials and have some left over for savings or recreation. The current Living Wage Foundation’s “real” living wage is £8.75 per hour for workers across the UK, and £10.20 per hour for workers in London.
The national living wage is a key part of the UK government’s commitment to reduce poverty and improve living standards for all. However, critics say that the current national living wage is still not enough to enable workers to live a decent life, and that the government should do more to raise wages across the board.
Do you think the national living wage is enough to enable workers to live a decent life? Let us know in the comments below.
