The qualification age for the adult minimum wage will drop to 21 this autumn.The government has confirmed that from 1 October workers will no longer have to be 22 years of age before they become eligible for the highest rate of pay.
The national minimum wage (NMW) for employees aged 21 and above will also rise to £5.93 from the same date, up from the current level of £5.80 per hour.
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills estimates that 85,000 21-year olds will be moved into the adult wage bracket as a result of the legislative change, and that it will add £48 million to the annual labour bill for businesses.
Workers aged 18 to 20 will see their hourly pay boosted from £4.83 to £4.92 in October’s yearly NMW increases, while pay for under-18s will rise to £3.64 from £3.57.
A new apprenticeship wage of £2.50 per hour will also be introduced for those underthe age of 19 and for people in the first year of their apprenticeship.
For more information please contact Lisa at Payroll Solutions on 0161 796 0477
