On the 1 April 2017, the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates for all age bands and for apprentices will increase. Remember mistakes can be costly, and it is a criminal offence to not pay someone the appropriate minimum wage, or living wage.
Any worker who is over 16 is entitled to the National Minimum wage. If the worker is over 25 years old then they are entitled to the National Living Wage.
If you employ Apprentices under 19 years old, or in their first year of the apprenticeship they get an Apprentice rate. If they are over 19 years old, and have completed their first year of apprenticeship they are entitled to the normal minimum wage for their age.
There are a number of exceptions,some of which include if you are self employed or a company director, or if you are a family member living in the employer’s home.
So what should you be paying?
| Year | 25 and over | 21 to 24 | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | Apprentice |
| 2016 (current rate) | £7.20 | £6.95 | £5.55 | £4.00 | £3.40 |
| April 2017 | £7.50 | £7.05 | £5.60 | £4.05 | £3.50 |
For apprentices under 19 or if over 19, but in their first year of an apprenticeship their rate is £3.40 per hour.
Do you want to know more, then please contact us
Cropped Photo: Thomas Pintaric / CC BY-SA 3.0
