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Employment

The National Minimum Wage rates

Almost all UK workers have a legal right to a minimum level of pay, called the National Minimum Wage. If you are being paid below the legal amount you can contact the Pay and Work Rights helpline for confidential help.

What is the National Minimum Wage?

Pay and Work Rights helpline

Confidential help and advice on the NMW

0800 917 2368

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) is a minimum amount per hour which most workers in the UK are entitled to be paid. With a few exceptions, it applies to all workers over the compulsory school leaving age. The rate is reviewed every year. Any changes take place in October.

All employers have to pay the NMW to workers who are eligible for it – there are no exceptions for different types or size of employer. Where you work in the UK makes no difference to the level of NMW you should receive.

Current NMW rates

There are different levels of NMW, which depend on your age. The rates from 1 October 2008 are:

  • adults (which means people aged 22 and over) receive the full rate of £5.73 an hour
  • workers aged 18 to 21 inclusive, receive a rate of £4.77 an hour (often known as the developmental rate)
  • young people receive £3.53 an hour (often known as the youth rate)

A young worker is someone who is older than school leaving age and younger than 18. You are under school leaving age until the end of summer term of the school year in which you turn 16.

Foreign language guides

You can download guides on the NMW in foreign languages. If you contact the Pay and Work Rights helpline they can give confidential help and advice in over 100 different languages.

Where to get help

The Pay and Work Rights gives confidential help and advice on the minimum wage and can handle calls in over 100 languages. If you aren’t being paid the NMW you can make a complaint to the helpline.

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