Almost all UK workers have a legal right to a minimum level of pay, called the National Minimum Wage.
There are different levels of National Minimum Wage, depending on the age of the worker. The rates from 1 October 2008 are as follows:
- adults aged 22 and over receive 5.73 pounds an hour
- workers aged 18 to 21 inclusive receive 4.77 pounds an hour
- young people older than school leaving age and younger than 18 receive 3.53 pounds an hour.
Apprentices under the age of 19 or 19 or over and in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
If you're not getting the minimum wage, try talking to your employer - they may have made a simple mistake. If this doesn't help, or if you don't want to speak to your employer, you can call the pay and work rights helpline: 0800 917 2368