U The National Living Wage that was introduced in 2015 for workers aged 25 and over has risen by 4.9% to 8.21 pounds an hour. This is the highest increase rate since its introduction. The National Living Wage is not to be confused with the so-called real living wage. According to the UK government, 1.8 million workers earning the National Living Wage will receive an additional 690 pound. This is still 1500 pounds a year short in comparison with the real living wage. The National Minimum Wage is also increasing to 7.70 pounds per hour for 21 to 24-year olds. The TUC stresses that young workers are still getting a raw deal on pay: ‘their bills aren’t any cheaper, but they have to make ends meet with less’.
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For more information, please contact Sanne van der Gaag or Sjaak van der Velden, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) sannevandergaag@deburcht.org or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Steve Coulter scoulter@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit www.etui.org/E-Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org.