Increase in the National Minimum Wage rate – 1 October 2010

From 1 October 2010 new national minimum wage (NMW) rates will come into force.

The NMW applies to nearly all workers and sets hourly rates below which employers must not allow pay to fall.

For pay reference periods beginning on or after 1 October 2010, employers will have to pay all eligible workers the following:

£5.93 - the rate for workers aged 21 and over
£4.92 - the 18-20 rate
£3.64 - the 16-17 rate
new minimum wage of £2.50 per hour for apprentices who are either under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship