New minimum wage rate from October

National Minimum Wage rates are to rise from October 2010, with the minimum rate for workers aged 21 and over rising to £5.93 an hour. And for the first time a minimum wage rate for apprentices has been set;

From October 2010, National Minimum Wage rates will increase from:

  • £5.80 to £5.93 an hour for workers aged 21 and over
  • £4.83 to £4.92 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20
  • £3.57 to £3.64 an hour for workers aged 16 to 17

The rise is around the two per cent mark in each category. As promised, the government has extended the adult minimum wage rate to 21-year-olds from October 2010. Previously the qualifying age for the National Minimum Wage was 22.

 

Apprentice minimum wage – £2.50 per hour

The government also accepted a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to introduce an apprentice minimum wage of £2.50 per hour.

The new rate will apply to:

  • apprentices under 19
  • apprentices aged 19 and over, but in the first year of their apprenticeship

LPC Chairman David Norgrove said: “We are pleased that the government has again accepted the Commission’s recommendations. The introduction of an apprentice rate marks an important extension to minimum wage protection across the UK.”

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