Almost all uk workers have a legal right to a minimum level of pay called the national minimum wage level is let by the government each year. The national minimum wage is an important cornerstone of government strategy aimed at providing employees with decent minimum standards and fairness in the workplace.
It applies to nearly all workers and sets hourly rates below which pay must not be allowed to fall. It helps business by ensuring companies will be able to compete on the basis of quality of the goods and services they provide and not on low prices based predominantly on low rates of pay. The rates set are based on the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission. The minimum wage is a legal right which covers almost all workers above compulsory school leaving age. There are different minimum wage rates for different groups of workers as follows:
From October 2007
Normal workers - £5.52 an hour an hour
The development rate for 18-21 year olds - £4.60 an hour
The development rate for 16-17 year olds - £3.40 an hour The rate of the accommodation offset - £30.10 per week (£4.30 per day) from £29.05 per week (£4.15 per day)
National Minimum Wage (NMW) Helpline 0845 6000 678
