National minimum wage
National minimum wage – the three rates
There are three different national minimum wage rates, which are usually updated in October each year. The rates that apply from 1 October 2009 are as follows:
- for workers aged 22 years or more: £5.80 per hour
- for workers aged 18 to 21 inclusive: £4.83 per hour
- for workers aged under 18 (but above compulsory school age): £3.57 per hour
Who’s entitled to the national minimum wage?
Almost all workers who work in the UK are entitled to the national minimum wage. But there are some groups who aren’t entitled, including:
- self-employed people
- apprentices under the age of 19
- apprentices aged 19 or over – but only for the first year of their apprenticeship
- children who are still of compulsory school age
It makes no difference to a worker’s entitlement to the national minimum wage whether they work for you full time or part time, or whether they are an agency worker, a temporary or casual worker, a piece worker or a home worker.