What is the national minimum wage?

What is the current rate?

The rate from 1 October 2009 is:

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

Almost everyone working in the UK is entitled to be paid the national minimum wage – and that includes agency workers, part-time workers, young people, casual workers, or people on a short-term contract.

All employers have to pay the national minimum wage by law, regardless of the size or type of company.

Why is it so important?

Before the national minimum wage was introduced 10 years ago, people could be earning as little as £1.20 for an hour's hard work.

The national minimum wage has helped to increase the pay of the lowest paid people in the country, and has narrowed the pay gap between men and women.

More than a million workers have benefited from the national minimum wage, more than two-thirds of which are women.

When did it become law?

It came into force on 1 April 1999 – 10 years ago – under a Labour government, after many years of campaigning by trade unions, anti-poverty campaigns and charities.

We believe that 10 years of the national minimum wage is worth celebrating, but that it must be defended and improved.

Am I entitled to the national minimum wage?

Almost everyone working in the UK is entitled to be paid the national minimum wage. But there are a few exceptions. Check your pay now using the minimum wage calculator

Who decides on the level of the national minimum wage?

Ultimately it's the government. They receive a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission about the level of the national minimum wage, and decide on whether the recommendations should be implemented or not.