11p increase to minimum wage sees unenthusiastic response from print industry figures, with individuals calling for its abolishment.
PrintWeek has collated 
mixed reactions to the national minimum wage increase for over 21s, effective as of 1 October. The increase of 11p ($0.17/€0.13) brings the minimum wage to £6.19 ($10.01/€7.70) an hour.
Minimum wage for 16-17 year olds and 18-21 year olds remains the same, although the hourly rate for apprentices has increased to £2.65 ($4.28/€3.29).
The increase has been met with disparate reception. Mercury Search and Selection’s Dani Novick remarked that few jobs within the print industry were positioned at minimum wage: “There are very few jobs within the industry at minimum wage level, and for those that are the increase is less than two percent.”
Polestar HR Director Simon Jones also noted that the increase would have little effect on staff, as none were on the minimum wage, but speculated that it would affect how companies utilise agency staff. However Jones predicted that the increase will be widely unpopular: “The difficulty everyone will have is that again it is an increased cost in a difficult time. Will it be a huge hit? No, it won’t be.”
Kathy Woodward and Mercian Labels’ Andrian Steele both expressed dissatisfaction with the increase, with Woodward remarking: “With margins low and difficult trading for some over the summer, even these increases will be unwelcome. It is pretty tough times for many with cashflow expected to be challenging in coming months. It is why it is so important that we try to extend the scope of the industry so that we are less dependent on rock bottom pricing.”
Steele expressed severe disapproval, commenting: “I would rather it be abolished, along with so many other burdensome regulations associated with employing people. This would quicken the return to a more competitive and growing economy in the UK.”