National Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage is the minimum hourly rate of pay most workers are entitled to by law. The Low Pay Commission reviews the rate annually, with changes taking effect on 1 October every year.
The National Minimum Wage has 4 bands:
- Workers aged 21 and over
- 18 to 20 year olds
- Under 18 year old but above the compulsory school leaving age
- Apprentices (16 to 18 year olds and those aged 19 or over who are in the first year of their apprenticeship). All other apprentices are entitled to the National Minimum Wage for their age group.
It is a criminal offence not to pay the National Minimum Wage or to keep records to prove your organisation does this.
We have produced an Information Note that explains who the National Minimum Wage applies to, the different age categories, and what payments to employees must be disregarded in calculating the National Minimum Wage.