The National Minimum Wage covers all workers employed under contract but doesn’t affect those who rent a chair/are self-employed.
It doesn’t matter how you pay your staff (weekly, monthly, cash, cheque, bank transfer, etc.), whether they are full- or part-time, or if their contract states a lower amount (perhaps you took them on a few years ago); they are all legally entitled to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. The National Minimum Wage can include bonuses or productivity/incentive-related pay, but not tips. Click here for gov.uk's Minimum/Living wage calculator.
National Minimum Wage, UK
Under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, all workers are entitled to a statutory National Minimum Wage.
The current National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are:
| Age | Rate Payable from 1st April 2024 |
| National Living Wage (21+) | £11.44 an hour (previously: £10.42) |
| 18-20 year old | £8.60 an hour (previously: £7.49) |
| 16-17 year old | £6.40 an hour (previously: £5.28) |
| Apprentice | £6.40 an hour |
The rate for those 21 and over is called the National Living Wage. Everyone over 21 will receive this (except for Apprentices in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship).
The Apprentice Minimum Wage of £6.40 per hour applies to those apprentices under the age of 19 and to those aged 19 and over in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship.
National Minimum Wage, Ireland
The current Minimum Wage Rates in Ireland are:
| Age | Rate Payable from 1st January 2024 |
| Aged 20 and over | €12.70 per hour |
| Aged 19 | €11.43 per hour |
| Aged 18 | €10.16 per hour |
| Under 18 | €8.89 per hour |
(An experienced adult worker – for the purposes of the National Minimum Wage Act – is an employee who has an employment of any kind in any 2 years over the age of 18.)
For further advice on this please contact us on either 02392 295 000 or 040 264 259.
