On 1 April 2000, the first anniversary of the national minimum wage, the DTI reported that:
- 1.5 million workers, 7% of the workforce, received pay rises as a result;
- 13% of young people have benefited;
- two-thirds of beneficiaries are women;
- the pay gap between men and women has reduced by one percentage point;
- two-thirds of beneficiaries are part-timers;
- the national minimum wage helpline took over 160,000 calls;
- enforcement officers have investigated 4,600 cases and recovered over £1 million in back pay;
- formal action has been taken in 120 cases. Ten cases have gone to court, all successfully;
- there has not been the unemployment feared by some commentators.
[2000.4]