The National Minimum Wage                                                 

The minimum wage is a legal right which covers almost all workers above compulsory school leaving age.

From the 1st October 2009 the following National Minimum Wage pay rates apply:

Aged 16 and 17: Young workers aged 16 or 17, who have ceased to be of compulsory school age must be paid at least £3.57 per hour*

Aged 18-21 inclusive: Workers aged between 18 and 21 inclusive must be paid a development* rate of at least £4.83 per hour*

Aged over 22: Workers aged 22+ must be paid at least £5.80 per hour*

       * NOTE: There are some exceptions depending on your curcumsstances. There are:-

          The National Minimum Wage does not apply to:

• Certain trainees on government training schemes.
• Apprentices under the age of 19.
• Apprentices over 19 and in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship will not
  qualify for the national minimum wage.
  
  NOTE: All workers aged 22 and over who qualify for the national minimum wage will be entitled to the current rate of £5.80 per hour. This applies even where the worker was previously in receipt of the development rate for those aged 22 and over and had been receiving that rate for less than 6 months.
  

• From 1st October 2009 tips will no longer count towards the National Minimum Wage, no matter how they are paid.
  

Apprenticeship Pay:

• There is a Learning and Skills Council (government) requirement that "employed" apprentices should be paid a minimum of £95 per week for full time work from August 2009.
• Sometimes there are agreed rates for certain stages of an apprenticeship. This means you might get a pay increases on your birthday, when you achieve a qualification or reach a certain standard.
• Minimum wage rules do not apply to all stages of an apprenticeship.
• Pay may vary depending on your “status” as an apprentice.
  

          Need more information on minimum wage?  See below...

To find out more about the minimum wage call the National Minimum Wage Helpline on 0845 6000 678 or visit the Revenue and Customs website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw

Employment rights for young people: To find out more about your employment rights visit the Direct.Gov website HERE.

For advice about the minimum wage call into your Local Connexions Centre or ring us FREE on 0800 073 8700and ask for the vacancy team.  You can also CLICK HERE to contact us on-line.

Working Time Regulations: To find out more about working time regulations which covers breaks, right to time off and working limits visit the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) website HERE

       Below are some useful employment related downloads

You will need the FREE Adobe reader to view these PDF files. If you don't have this Click here. Files can then be viewed on screen (left mouse click) or downloaded to your PC (right mouse click then "Save Target As...").

1.1) Right to time off for study or training [221k]
            Check your right to paid time off work to study or train.
1.2) Looking for part-time and casual work [198k]
            A useful document if you are looking for part time or casual work.
1.3) Working while still at school [223k]
            Important information about working if you are still at school.

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