Defend and improve the national minimum wage

  • Improve it – support the uprating of the national minimum wage.
  • Extend it – to cover apprentices.
  • Make it fair – scrap the age bands that discriminate against young workers.
  • Enforce it – make sure workers know about it and employers pay it.

We're celebrating..

The national minimum wage is 10 years old.

It's a major achievement. Over the last 10 years it's raised the living standards of the lowest paid, and helped close the gap between men and women's pay.

This year the government agreed the adult rate should increase by seven pence from October 2009. It has also asked the Low Pay Commission to look at bringing apprentices within their remit.

Our campaign continues making sure politicians and the media are fully aware of the level of support for the NMW, and its importance to our economy.

Age (years) Hourly rate
16 - 17 £3.57
18 - 22 £4.83
22 and over £5.80