UK Government Approves 4.1% Minimum Wage Rise Starting April 2026

Britain’s main minimum wage rate will rise by 4.1% to £12.71 ($16.67) an hour next April to keep up with average pay, the government said on Tuesday, despite complaints from some employers that the increase will push up prices, as Reuters reported.

Britain’s minimum wage is the second-highest in Europe relative to average pay and has risen by more than 60% since 2019, as successive governments have sought to lift it to two-thirds of median hourly earnings.

Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said the new increase, which follows a 6.7% rise earlier this year, was needed “so that those on low incomes are properly rewarded for their hard work.” The increase will benefit 2.4 million workers aged 21 and over, while a further 300,000 apprentices and workers under 21 will receive a rise of 6.0%–8.5% as the government continues to phase out lower minimum wages for these groups.