The National Minimum Wage (applicable to those of school leaving age) and the National Living Wage (extended to those aged 21 and over, previously aged 23 and over) rates are increasing on April 1, 2024.
To ensure your employees are being paid correctly you should:
- Check the new rates (see below).
- Identify which employees are due to be paid a new rate.
- Communicate the change to payroll and the employee as soon as possible.
The new rates are:
| Age | April 1, 2023
(Current Rate) |
April 1, 2024 | |||
| National Living Wage | 23+ | £10.42 |
– |
||
| 21+ |
– |
£11.44 | |||
| National Minimum Wage | 18-20 | £7.49 | £8.60 | ||
| Under 18 | £5.28 | £6.40 | |||
| Apprentice | £5.28 | £6.40 | |||
Note:
- Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they are either:
- Aged under 19.
- Aged 19 or over but in the first year of their apprenticeship.
- Apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage for their age if they are both:
- Aged 19 or over.
- Have completed the first year of their apprenticeship.
Check
Although you may be paying your employees at or above the National Minimum or National Living Wage, you could still be underpaying them. This can happen when an employer:
- Makes deductions from wages.
- Counts tips towards pay.
- Deducts the costs of tools or work clothes from pay.