Ministers are facing a backlash from unions after it was suggested that the full living wage for over-18s may be delayed until after the next election.
The Government has committed to abolishing the different levels of minimum wage for those aged over 18, to bring them into line with the National Living Wage that is paid to all workers aged 22 and above.
Labour put the policy in its manifesto ahead of the 2024 general election, in a move it said would “remove the discriminatory age bands, so all adults are entitled to the same minimum wage, delivering a pay rise to hundreds of thousands of workers across the UK”.
Shorts
It comes after former Labour health secretary Sir Alan Milburn suggested scrapping the policy to abolish different age bands for the minimum wage, as part of his review into the growing youth unemployment crisis.
