U.K. Hikes Minimum Wage by 6.6% in Budget Boost for Millions (1)

The U.K. is to increase its national minimum wage to 9.50 pounds an hour ($13.06), providing a boost for millions of low-paid workers ahead of the budget this week.

The legal pay floor for people aged 23 and over will rise by 6.6% from 8.91 pounds starting on April 1, the Treasury announced in statement Monday.

The increase may prove politically expedient for Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak as the prospect of a rapid spike in inflation puts the government under pressure to support the poorest households. It also plants him firmly in the territory of the opposition ...