The National Minimum Wage (NMW) provides a legally binding minimum hourly rate of pay to workers over compulsory school leaving age – with some exceptions.
The NMW rose on 1st October 2009. The new rates are:
· Workers aged 22 and over = £5.80 (was £5.73) per hour
· Workers aged 18 and to 21 inclusive (up to employee’s 22nd birthday) who are not apprentices = £4.83 (was £4.77) per hour
· Workers over compulsory school leaving age* but under 18 and not in an apprenticeship programme = £3.57 (was £3.53) per hour
· If you provide accommodation for your workers you can offset from the NMW rate £4.15 a day to a total of £29.05 per week (known as the daily accommodation offset).
Apprenticeship Exemption:
· All workers on a deed of contract of an apprenticeship are exempt from the national minimum wage.
· The salary for an apprentice can vary depending on the employer but it is a requirement of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) that, in England, apprentices earn a minimum of £95 per week.
· Apprenticeships for young people are funded by the government and training providers access this funding via the LSC.
· Connexions can put you in touch with suitable training providers.
More information:
For further information visit
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TheNationalMinimumWage
Further guidance is also available on www.businesslink.gov.uk
Disclaimer
The information in this pack is for information only and is correct at time of publishing. It should not be used as a guide to Employment Legislation.
* In England a person is no longer of compulsory school age after the last Friday in June of the school year in which their 16th birthday falls.
*Please read our disclaimer regarding links to other websites
Updated: January 2010