无码天堂

By Shannon Pite

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt today confirmed plans to increase the national living wage to at least 拢11 per hour from April 2024.

The change, which will impact over two million workers, was confirmed today during the Chancellor鈥檚 keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference. The national living wage is currently 拢10.42 and applies to all workers aged 23 and over.

The government has said that the increase is based on the latest forecasts of the Low Pay Commission, an independent advisory group. 

Changes could spell 鈥渄isaster鈥� for the early years

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the 无码天堂, said:

鈥淲hile we absolutely support the principle of all staff receiving a fair and reasonable wage, the fact is that without adequate government funding, this increase in the national living wage is likely to spell disaster for the early years.

鈥淲ith salaries accounting for around three-quarters of overall costs in early years settings, and with so many early years professionals on or near the national living or minimum wage, any increase in statutory wage requirements will always have a huge impact on overall delivery costs in the sector. And yet, despite this, over the last six years, average early years funding rates have increased by just 14%, compared to a nearly 40% rise in the national living wage over the same period.

鈥淭here is no question that those working in the early years are educational professionals who absolutely deserve a wage that reflects the value of the work that they do 鈥� but unless the government ensures that funding for the sector rises in line with wage increases, what should be a positive development for the sector could end up marking the final nail in the coffin for settings across the country.鈥�