Currys boss: minimum wage hike shows government does not ‘care’ about retail

Baldock’s criticism came as Currys reported a 4% drop in like-for-like sales over the six months to October. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters

The boss of Currys has accused the government of failing to understand or care about UK retailers by pushing through a “big hike” in the UK’s minimum wage.

Alex Baldock’s comments come weeks after the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced plans to increase the legal minimum wage for the UK’s lowest paid workers to £11.44 an hour, representing a rise of almost 10%, from April 2024. The move will force employers to pay full-time workers about £1,800 more per year.