Teenagers call for rise in 'unfair' minimum wage

Teenagers who say they are being "ripped off" in their pay packets are calling for the changes to the minimum wage, so under-18s are paid the same as workers aged 21 and over.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a rise in the minimum wage in the Budget - but a group of teenagers at Minster School in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, said it did not go far enough.

The hourly rate for over-21s will rise by 50p to £12.71 from April 2026, with workers aged 18 to 20 set to receive an 85p rise to £10.85, and under-18s and apprentices getting 45p more to £8 an hour.

Noah Wood, the Youth MP for Newark and Sherwood, questioned the difference in rates paid to those under 21 in the House of Commons last month.

The UK Youth Parliament is made up of more than 300 young people aged between 11 and 18.

Noah, who has been a Youth MP for two years, said his campaign about the minimum wage rise had made it into the Youth Parliament's manifesto.

Speaking in Parliament last month, the 17-year-old said: "To work as a 16 or 17-year-old today is to be ripped off, to be paid less than a 22-year-old despite doing the same work.

"Saving and affording the futures we dream of is hard. What's making it harder is the lack of a fair wage."

He told the BBC the current system "is not fair" and "doesn't happen in any other walk of life".

He added there should be more job opportunities for young people.

"Young people can't get jobs, they haven't got opportunities available to them and businesses can't afford it," he added.

"Young people do want to work but they aren't being given the opportunities - and businesses aren't being supported in offering young people those opportunities either."

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: "Our increases to the national minimum wage rates for all workers will put more money in the pockets of the lowest paid.

"This decision was taken after receiving independent advice and we are confident it will not excessively burden businesses."

Sixth former William, 17, who is a sixth former at the Minster School and works at a rugby club, said: "It's a disgrace that we're paid less to do the exact same work that people a year older would be able to do for more.

"As young people we are disrespected by the government. We are not listened to."

Isobel, 16, said: "People don't realise how unfair employment is at the moment for us.

"I've applied for many jobs and for some of them I haven't even had a response back.

"If the minimum wage was equalised I think it would be more fair."

Tulip, 17, said businesses should see employing under-18s as an "opportunity to invest in".

She said: "It's an unfair situation as we are doing the same hours but getting paid a lot less.

"Our generations are the next politicians but we are not being listened to compared to older people."

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