Changes to Minimum Wage from 01 October

The age at which workers become eligible for the full National Minimum Wage rate (£5.93 per hour) will drop from 22 to 21 on 1st October 2010. 

According to government figures this will affect about 85,000 people and is predicted to cost employers nearly £48.2 million.

The rate for workers aged between 18 and 20 rises from £4.83 to £4.92, and the rate to be paid to workers aged under 18 who have ceased to be of compulsory school age rises from £3.57 to £3.64 per hour.

Apprentices who are either aged under 19, or who are over 19 and in the first year of their apprenticeship, will  now qualify for a NMW of £2.50 per hour.