National living wage rise ‘ushering in government-directed deals’
James Timpson, of the Timpson retail group, says 9.8 per cent increase in adult rate would add £10.4m to its wage bill and lead to higher prices for customers
James Timpson, chief executive of the family-owned Timpson retail group, says the government “is now in control of how much we pay people in this country”
TOM STOCKILL FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
The record rise in the national living wage in April is taking Britain into a new era of government-directed pay deals, a leading retailer has warned.
James Timpson, chief executive of the family-owned Timpson retail group, employs 5,600 people in its 2,100 shops, including 10 per cent who are ex-offenders with criminal convictions.
Timpson said the 9.8 per cent increase from £10.42 to £11.44 an hour in the adult rate — and rises of up to 21 per cent for younger workers — would add £10.4 million to its wage bill and would result in higher prices for customers of its key-cutting, dry cleaning and photographic services.
Three million low-paid workers will receive the pay rise as part of a government target to take the
