General · 18 February 2026
Ministers consider delaying equal pay for young workers
Ministers are considering a delay to the election promise of paying 18 to 20-year-olds the same rate as older employees. Younger staff currently earn £10 hourly, significantly less than the £12.21 minimum wage mandated for workers aged over 21. Business leaders argue that raising costs prevents job creation, which is concerning because 16.1% of young people are already out of work.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs