The Caterer Blog

So the National Minimum Wage is to rise again. Is it that time of year already?

Yes, the Government has announced that as of October the hourly National Minimum Wage for those above 22 years of age will rise from £5.52 to £5.73 per hour.

Although an increase is an increase, most employer bodies seem happy enough that this isn’t an above inflation rate hike this time.

But with slower consumer spending and the pub closure rate climbing, what do you think?

Part of doing business and good for the industry’s image or an unwelcome addition to a growing set of business burdens as things get progressively tougher in 2008?

For more see our National Minimum Wage news round-up>>

History of the National Minimum Wage>>

National Minimum Wage guide>>

Now, now children, play nicely. A fight has broken out in Fleet Street with journalists at The Daily Mirror accusing The Independent of foul play over the title's "Fair Tips, Fair Pay" campaign.

Back in April, the Mirror joined forces with the Unite union to launch a "fair tips charter" calling on hospitality employers to end the (legal) practice of topping up minimum wage with tips and demanding that the Government closes the loophole that allows them to do it.

Unite has been running the campaign since last September, when it launched with a protest outside Pizza Express at Haymarket and Smollensky's on the Strand

Then two weeks ago, The Independent decided - with the traditionally news-light silly season approaching - to jump on the bandwagon with its own campaign.