National Minimum Wage

06 October 2010

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

The NMW rates, announced in March this year will increase from: �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.