GUERNSEY is expected to have a minimum wage in place by September.

Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer (pictured) said it would be set at a similar rate to the UK and Jersey – which for over 22-year-olds is currently £5.73 an hour and £5.80 an hour respectively.

The States agreed to a minimum wage in October 2007.

‘Commerce and Employment hopes that the process of introducing a statutory minimum wage will be completed later this year,’ said Deputy McNulty Bauer.

‘The department believes that this legislation will be a valuable step forward in employee protection and will eliminate the worst cases of financial exploitation in the workplace.’

Drafting of the legislation by St James Chambers took place during last year.

The department approved a draft in December 2008 that was then forwarded to the Legislation Select Committee for its consideration.