24 September 2015
Every year on 1 October the National Minimum Wage limits are adjusted and we are shortly about to see the change in rate from 2014 to 2015. Please make sure that where you are adopting the national minimum wage as a level for your staff that you are aware of the rate change and make the relevant required. As an Employer it is illegal not to be paying the correct rates to your employees and you can fined where incorrect rates are adopted.
Age 21 and over – increases from £6.50 to £6.70 per hour
Age 18 -20 – increases from £5.13 to £5.30 per hour
Age 16-17 – increases from £3.79 to £3.87 per hour
The Apprentice * rate increases from £2.73 to £3.30 per hour.
*This rate is for Apprentices aged 16-18 and those aged 19 or over who are in their first year. All other Apprentices are entitled to the National Minimum Wage for their age.
Anyone that is under the age of 16 is not subject to national minimum wage and therefore it only applies to those of school leaving age.
From April 2016 we see the introduction of the National Living Wage which applies for any employee aged 25 and older and will be set at £7.20 per hour.