MOSCOW, September 26 (RIA Novosti) - Britain's largest trade union Unite has urged the government to increase the country's minimum wage to 7.81 pounds ($12.74) an hour from the current 6.31 pounds ($10.29) an hour, saying it can create at least 30,000 new jobs, a report it published Friday said.
"We have long-argued for an immediate uplift in the minimum wage of 1.50 pounds to get people out of poverty and get some real growth into our economy… This report shows that this is both affordable for employers, would in fact create not cost jobs, and is a great deal for the national finances. It need not be put off any longer," Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said.
On October 1, the minimum wage in the United Kingdom will rise to 6.5 pounds ($10.6) an hour, disappointing those who were pushing for Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to increase it to 7 pounds ($11.42) an hour.
The trade union will submit the report to the Low Pay Commission later in the day, advising the government on changes to the minimum wage.
Labour Party leader Edward Miliband revealed this week that his party would increase the minimum wage to more than 8 pounds ($13.05) during the next parliament in May 2015, if the party is elected.
