UK’s Labour party vows £10 minimum wage for youth

Labour will extend its plans for a higher £10-an-hour minimum wage to include workers under the age of 18, party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said.

Currently, under-18s are entitled to a minimum wage of £4.35 per hour, compared with £8.21 for over-25s.

But under a Labour government this "youth rate" for the minimum wage would be ended in 2020, Corbyn said.

Jeremy Corbyn told a party gathering that employers should not be allowed to exploit younger workers and vowed to bring the salaries of those under 18 in line with the broader workforce.

Former Labour leader Tony Blair introduced a minimum wage in Britain in 1999. Overseen by an independent body, it has steadily increased and now stands at 8.21 pounds for workers over 25, while those under 18 are entitled to 4.35 pounds.

Labour has vowed to increase the overall minimum wage to 10 pounds an hour, and to include younger workers.

“It’s time to end this discrimination. Young people’s work should be properly valued, not exploited by employers to cut their wage bill. If they’re doing the job, pay them the wage - the real living wage,” he said.

Corbyn further said that Labour's proposal would see workers aged 16 and 17 paid about £2,500 more a year.

All UK pupils can leave school at the age on 16.

But in England, under-18s must then stay in full-time education, start an apprenticeship or traineeship or spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training.

The rates are reviewed each year by the government which is advised by the independent Low Pay Commission.

The commission has previously said different minimum wages have been set for different age groups due to "evidence that younger workers are more at risk of being priced out of jobs than older workers, with worse consequences if they end up unemployed."