The new rates that come into force today (1 October 2016) are:

£6.95 for 21 to 24 year olds.

£5.55 for 18 to 20 year olds.

£4.00 for 16 and 17 year olds

£3.40 for apprentices aged 16 to 18 and those in their first year aged 19 or over.

Over 25s are subject to the National Living Wage of £7.20, which was introduced in April 2016.

John Hannett - Usdaw General Secretary says: "We welcome this pay rise for the millions of low-paid workers who rely on the National Minimum Wage. The minimum wage is a basic rate that employers should be seeking to pay above. In all companies where Usdaw negotiates wages, we have secured better than minimum wage rates and we are always working towards and beyond the Living Wage Foundation rate of £8.25 per hour or £9.40 in London.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 440,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion