National Minimum Wage
If you're aged 16 or over, the law says you should be paid a minimum amount per hour. This is called the national minimum wage. You can be paid more than the minimum wage, but you must not be paid less.
The rate of minimum wage varies according to your age and employment terms - it doesn't matter how much experience you have. From 1st October 2010, the minimum you should be paid is:
| Aged 16 – 17 | £3.64 per hour |
| Aged 18 – 20 | £4.92 per hour |
| Aged 21 and over | £5.93 per hour |
The following are all entitled to the minimum wage: Full-time workers, part-time workers, casual workers, agency workers, home workers, piece- workers and foreign workers who are legally allowed to work in the UK .
But there are a few workers who're not eligible to the minimum wage or only qualify after a set period of time. They are:
- Workers under school leaving age
- Apprentices under the age of 19
- Apprentices aged 19 or over, in the first year of an Apprenticeship
- Students on a work placement of less than 1 year, that is part of an FE or HE course
- Participants of Leonardo Da Vinci or Youth in Action programmes
- Au pairs
- Workers in the armed services
- Voluntary workers
Agricultural workers have separate pay rates set by the Agricultural Wages Board.
If you think you're not being paid the minimum wage you're entitled to - or have any other queries - contact the Pay & Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368, visit www.direct.gov.uk/payandworkrights or talk to a Connexions Personal Adviser.
