We all know the minimum wage is not a living wage – especially for young people GMB has backed a Labour pledge to raise the minimum wage – giving a pay rise to six million workers. Comment from Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary.

The party will today (Thursday) announce their plan to increase the National Minimum Wage to £10 per hour for all workers over the age of 18 by 2020. The current NMW is £7.50 for over 25s and drops to just £5.60 per hour for 18 to 20-year-olds.

GMB’s £10 Now campaign has advocated an increase in the statutory living wage and an end to age discrimination against younger workers. Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary, said: “Wages in the UK aren’t keeping pace with inflation – and that means people are left struggling to pay their rent and put food in their families’ mouths.

“The trouble with the government’s knock-off version of the living wage is that it’s set at a level that people can’t live on. It’s why GMB leads the campaign for £10 now. Young people don’t get a discount on their bills, so why should they be paid less? Labour’s proposal for a £10 minimum wage for all workers is just plain common sense and offers six million people the pay rise they so desperately need.”