The minimum wage will this week rise for more than a million workers.

Low paid workers over the age of 22 will see their hourly rate rise to £4.20 an hour, and the development rate for 18-21 year olds will increase to £3.60 an hour.

Forum Brief: Unison

A spokeswoman for Unison told ePolitix.com: "An increase in the minimum wage is welcome, however ten pence is not enough and goes nowhere near a living wage, which Unison believes should be five pounds.

"We would also like to see the youth wage scrapped as everyone should get a hrad day's wage for a hard day's work whatever their age."

Forum Brief: GMB

A spokeswoman for GMB told ePolitix.com: "We support the TUC joint union initiative to increase the minimum wage to five pounds so that hard working British people can earn a decent living wage."

Forum Brief: Institute of Directors

A spokesman for the Institute of Directors told ePolitix.com: "We have said numerous times before that the more you raise costs, the more you discourage business form taking people on. So far the effect of the minimum wage has been disguised, but if there is a major downturn in the economy it will have a big impact."

Forum Response: USDAW

Bill Connor, general secretary for USDAW,told ePolitix.com:"The National Minimum Wage has made a real difference to many low-paid workers and we very much welcome this further uprating, although we will continue to campaign for at least £5 per hour."Despite the introduction of the National Minimum wage we still have the problem of very low wages for young workers. Usdaw would like to see the adult rate applied to all workers over 18 years old and a minimum wage forall 16 and 17 year olds. We have found examples of under-18s working for as little as £1 per hour. It is outrageous that employers are still allowed to get away with exploiting young people.

"The National Minimum Wage was a radical step that proved to be a great success. It did not lead to the mass job losses predicted by employers. It is now time to take another radical step by giving minimum wage protection to under 18s.

"There is no place for poverty pay in 21st century Britain".