Minimum wages increase

The revised hourly rates come in from 1 April 2018.

The increases are all well above the current 2.7% rate of inflation for December 2017, with apprentices seeing the biggest gain of 5.7%. Employers need to be careful with apprentices, because they will be entitled to the hourly rate for their age if they are 19 or over and have completed the first year of their apprenticeship.

The national wage rates do not just apply to full-time employees. They also cover such people as part-time workers, casual labourers, homeworkers paid by the number of items made, trainees, workers on probation, agency workers and foreign workers.

Age

Current

Revised

25 and over

£7.50

£7.83

21 to 24

£7.05

£7.38

18 to 20

£5.60

£5.90

Under 18

£4.05

£4.20

Apprentices under 19 or in first year

£3.50

£3.70