The national minimum wage rates will increase from 1 October 2010 as under:
- £5.80 to £5.93 an hour for workers aged 21 and over
- £4.83 to £4.92 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20
- £3.57 to £3.64 an hour for workers aged 16 to 17
This marks an increase of 2% in each category. The government has extended applicability of the adult minimum wage rates to 21-year-olds from 1 October 2010. Previously the qualifying age for national minimum wage was 22 years.
The government has also introduced a new apprentice minimum wage of £2.50 per hour. This is applicable to apprentices aged under19 years and apprentices aged 19 and over but in the first year of apprenticeship.
