LEIGH MP Andy Burnham has welcomed new legislation which will see the national minimum wage rise to above £5 for the first time.
Adults must be paid at least £5.05 an hour, up from £4.85, while 18 to 21 year olds will be paid £4.25.
The recommendations came from the Low Pay Commission which said the number of jobs had continued to grow since the minimum wage was introduced in 1999.
A further increase of £5.35 for adults and £4.45 for 18 to 21-year-olds will be introduced in October next year.
Mr Burnham said: "This welcome news means a guaranteed pay increase for two years running for many people in Leigh.
"The minimum wage has made a real difference to the lives of thousands of low paid workers. Year on year increases protect some of society's most vulnerable people from exploitative rates of pay.
"Despite predictions to the contrary, the national minimum wage has not affected the job prospects of low-paid workers in the UK. Unemployment is at an historic low in our area."
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