Bad news.....
Hi taken,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but there is no absolute compulsion on an employer to pay more that the statutory (the only positive news is that this has increased from 1/2 week per year for those aged < 41) recently.
While it is not compulsory, depending on the company's financial state there are other ways of improving this eg. the labour court, publicity and how critical the skills available are to the management of the business over the short to medium term.
Can't be any more positive than that - hope it works out ok...
MAC