Care home managers who employ staff earing the national minimum wage will be affected by an increase in pay rates from October this year it has been announced today (March 20, 2012).

The Government announced that the national minimum wage for workers aged
21 and over will increase by 11p to £6.19 per hour. However the
minimum wage for workers under the age of 21 will remain unchanged.

The   1.8% increase in the minimum wage is lower than the current rate of inflation, as measured by the
Consumer Prices Index, which rose by 3.6% for the year ending January. However the
Low Pay Commission’s  recommendations on the national minimum wage are more
in line with average earnings which increased by 1.4% for the same
period.

The rate for apprentices will increase by 5p to £2.65 per hour.

The Rates are: