>> In Work or Training >> Guide to Rights & Responsibilities >> National Minimum Wage

Nearly all workers aged 18 and over should get paid the minimum wage. The law on minimum wage covers all employees, even if you are the only one.

You should get the minimum wage:

• If you work full-time.
  
• If you work part-time.
  
• If you do temporary work, work for an agency, work from home or do casual work.

From October 2012 you should be paid at least:

• £3.68 an hour if you are aged 16 (and above compulsory school leaving age) or 17 the same rate as in 2011, but apprentices* and most trainees are not included.
  
• £4.98 an hour from 18 up to your 21st birthday (known as the development rate) the same rate as in 2011. Apprentices are not included in their first year of training.
  
• £6.19 an hour if you are aged 21 and over, up from £6.08 in 2011.
• *Apprentices under 19 and apprentices aged 19 or over and in the first year of an Apprenticeship are entitled to an apprentice minimum wage of £2.65 an hour, up from £2.60 an hour in 2011.

The National Minimum Wage does NOT cover:

• Self-employed workers.
• Volunteers.
• Trainees who are on a Government funded scheme and are not employed.
• Students on placement from a sandwich course.
• Anyone employed in someone else's home eg au pairs, nannies or people doing cleaning.
• Prisoners.
• Anyone in the Armed Forces.
• Shore fishermen.
• People living in religious and some other communities.
• Most farm or agricultural workers' wages are currently covered by Agricultural Wages Board, which is being abolished - agricultural workers will then be covered by the National Minimum Wage.
  

You can get advice from:

National Minimum Wage information
www.direct.gov.uk/nmw

Pay and Work Rights Helpline
T: 0800 917 2368
Textphone: 0800 121 4042

www.direct.gov.uk/helpline

HM Revenue & Customs
www.hmrc.gov.uk

Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
www.bis.gov.uk

Pay & Employment Rights Service
www.pers.org.uk