Unions have welcomed increases in the statutory minimum wage, which take effect from today (2nd April).

Many workers on minimum wage are on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, including care staff looking after elderly and vulnerable people in very challenging circumstances, and supermarket staff on the shop floor and working in warehouses, as reported by Retail Gazette.

The statutory rate for over-25s will go up from £8.21 per hour to £8.72, while the national minimum wage for 21-24 year olds will go up from £7.70 to £8.20 per hour.

For 18 to 20-year-olds, the rate goes up from £6.15 to £6.45 per hour and from £4.35 to £4.55 for under-18s. The minimum hourly rate for apprentices will increase from £3.90 to £4.15 per hour.

The new rates are still lower than the voluntary real living wage of £9.30 per hour or 10.75 an hour in London.

The TUC said that Britain is currently indebted to its army of minimum wage heroes, who deserve every penny of the increase and more.

Unison said that the rises would make a real difference to over a million low-paid workers across the country.