John Cridland, director-general of the CBI, has called for businesses to provide higher wages in order to ensure that their workers benefit from the recovery.
In a New Year's message to business leaders Mr Cridland encouraged companies benefiting from the economic recovery to pay their staff more.
Mr Cridland said:
"There are still far too many people stuck in Minimum Wage jobs without routes to progression - and that's a serious challenge that businesses and the Government must address.
With an election less than eighteen months away, politicians must remember that businesses are absolutely crucial to driving the recovery home, creating jobs and raising living standards for all. My message to the public is that businesses are up for that challenge and 2014 is the year we will deliver."