As of February 2023, there is no indication that security guards in the UK will be back on minimum wage of £10.42 on 1st of April 2023. However, it’s important to understand the background and context of this topic.

In April 2016, the UK government introduced the National Living Wage (NLW) as part of its efforts to tackle low pay. The NLW is a minimum wage rate that applies to workers aged 23 and over, which was initially set at £7.20 per hour. In April 2022, the NLW was increased to £9.50 per hour, representing a significant rise in the minimum wage for many workers in the UK.

However, the security industry has been granted an exemption from the NLW, and instead operates under a separate minimum wage system known as the Security Industry Authority (SIA) minimum wage. This is a lower minimum wage rate that applies to licensed security operatives in the UK.

Currently, the SIA minimum wage is £9.00 per hour for licensed security operatives working in London, and £8.91 per hour for those working outside of London. This means that many security guards in the UK are already earning less than the NLW, and the SIA minimum wage is the lowest minimum wage rate in the UK.

There has been some speculation that the UK government may consider aligning the security industry with the NLW, which could result in a significant pay rise for security guards. However, as of February 2023, there has been no official announcement regarding any such move.

It’s worth noting that the pay and conditions of security guards in the UK have been the subject of much debate and criticism in recent years. Many security guards work long hours, unsociable shifts, and face a range of risks and challenges in their work. Low pay and poor conditions have been identified as key issues in the sector, which can have a negative impact on the morale and motivation of security guards.

In conclusion, there is currently no indication that security guards in the UK will be back on minimum wage on 1st of April 2023. However, there is ongoing debate and discussion around the pay and conditions of security guards, and it is possible that changes could be made in the future to address some of the issues faced by workers in this sector.

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