National Minimum Wage

06/10/2010

The new rates for the National Minimum Wage will come into effect from the 1st of October 2010.

£5.80 to £5.93 an hour for workers aged 21 and over

£4.83 to £4.92 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20

£3.57 to £3.64 an hour for workers aged 16 to 17

The rise is approximately two per cent in each category.

The Government has extended the adult minimum wage rate to 21-year-olds from October 2010, previously the qualifying age for the National Minimum Wage was 22.

The government also accepted a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission to introduce an apprentice minimum wage of £2.50 per hour.

The new rate will apply to apprentices under 19. For apprentices aged 19 and over, the new rate will only apply in the first year of their apprenticeship.