That's why I'm pleased that the national minimum wage for those aged 22and over will rise to 5.35 an hour on 1 October. The developmentrate for 18- to 21-year-olds will also increase, to 4.45, and thedevelopment rate for those aged 16 to 17 will rise to 3.30.
Research shows that the vast majority of good employers have been payingat least the minimum wage since its introduction in 1999. However, HerMajesty's Revenue and Customs found that one in three of the childcareworkplaces it investigated have not. The figures also show that therehave been a regular number of complaints about underpayment in thesector.
The Government is working with the childcare sector more widely toensure providers, where necessary, improve quality. When parents pay forchildcare I'm sure they expect providers to have sound employmentpractices; the minimum wage is a part of this.
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