Background/facts

The Government has published its National Minimum Wage Regulation amendments for the next year. The key changes are as follows:

• The principal rate of National Minimum Wage (NMW) will rise from £5.80 to £5.93 per hour from 1st October 2010;
• The age for which the principal rate becomes payable falls from 22 to 21;
• Workers aged between 18 and 20 will see their rates rise from £4.83 to £4.92;
• The rate paid to workers below 18 who have ceased to be of compulsory school age rises from £3.57 to £3.64 per hour; and
• The Regulations also provide for a National Minimum Wage of £2.50 per hour for apprentices who are employed under a contract of apprenticeship or who are engaged in certain Government arrangements in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.