The national minimum wage rate is a legally-enforced standard that ensures employees are paid what they deserve. It was introduced in the UK in 1999, and today over 90 per cent of the world’s countries have some minimum wage laws in place. All sizes of company and almost all types of work are subject to this law, and any business found to be paying under the minimum wage could face severe repercussions. Here, Peninsula advises employers on the different minimum wage age bands, as well as providing information on the 2015 national minimum wage changes.
What is the UK minimum wage?
National minimum wage increases on a regular basis to keep income in line with inflation. The table below shows the current rates, in effect from October 2015.
| 35 Hours | 37.5 Hours | 40 Hours | |
| NLW April 2016 (aged 21 to 24) | |||
| £6.70 per hour | £12,194 | £13,065 | £13,936 (aged 25 and over) |
| £7.20 per hour | £13,104 | £14,040 | £14,976 |
| Actual Living Wage |
|||
| £8.25 per hour | £15,015 | £16,087.50 | £17,160 |
| London Living Wage | |||
| £9.40 per hour | £17,108 | £18,330 | £19,552 |
| NLW in 2020 | |||
| £9 per hour | £16,380 | £17,550 | £18,720 |