From 1 April 2017 the National Minimum Wage rates increase as follows:
- £7.50 per hour – 25 yrs old and over (new rate for over 25s was introduced April 2016 and referred to as the complusory National Living Wage)
- £7.05 per hour – 21-24 yrs old
- £5.60 per hour – 18-20 yrs old
- £4.05 per hour – 16-17 yrs old
- £3.50 for apprentices under 19 or those who are 19 & over and in the first year of apprenticeship
You may have seen recent media reports “naming & Shaming” those employers who failed to pay the National Minimum Wage – the full list is published here
This is bad publicity for all named of course, who are given equally scathing media treatment regardless of company size and whether they mistakenly underpaid employees by just a few pounds each over the course of the whole year, or if they underpaid by thousands of pounds. Fines are not insignificant either with Debenhams being fined £63,000 for their £11 per employee underpayment.
It’s not hard to ensure you pay correctly but if you have any queries don’t hesitate to contact us vivohr.co.uk