Beauty & hair workers set to be better off

In today's (29th October) Autumn Budget Statement, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has announced a rise in the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage as well as increases in personal income tax allowances, which will come into force in April 2019.

The National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage are the lowest rates of pay that employers in the UK can pay their staff.

The National Living Wage for employees aged 25 years and over will rise by 4.9% to £8.21 an hour. 

Workers aged 21 to 24 years will see the National Minimum Wage rise by 4.3% to £7.70 per hour, 18 – 20 year olds rate will increase to £6.15 per hour, and the National Minimum Wage rate for workers aged 16-17 years will rise to £4.35 per hour. 

The hourly rate for Apprentices will increase by 5.4% to £3.90 per hour.

These increases are inline with recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission. 

In addition, employees will see an increase in their personal income tax allowance to £12,500 per year. The higher rate tax allowance will also increase to £50,000 as of April 2019.