Great Britain: surprise announcement of an obligatory living wage

On Wednesday July 08 and before an incredulous Labour Party David Cameron’s government presented its first 100% Conservative party budget since the party was reelected to power and in it announced a that a living wage would be obligatory for all workers over 25. Significant help for apprenticeships was also promised.
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2.5 million British employees will see their pay go up from April 2016 in a surprising move by Chancellor George Osborne who announced during his budget presentation that the minimum wage would be replaced by a national minimum living wage which itself draws on the current lower living wage already implemented on a voluntary basis by certain businesses. This new wage will be obligatory for all workers over 25 and will be set at 7.20 £ (10€) an hour from April 2016 rising to 9£ (12.5€) an hour a

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