Updates: Calculating the minimum wage
2025
Page updated to reflect that the manual now uses 2025 to 2026 minimum wage rates and age bands,
Examples updated to reflect 2025/2026 National Minimum Wage rates.
Working hours for which the minimum wage must be paid
Examples updated to reflect 2025/2026 National Minimum Wage rates.
Examples updated to reflect 2025/2026 National Minimum Wage rates.
2024
The National Living Wage (NLW) has increased to 拢11.44 an hour, and eligibility has been extended from those over 23 to those over 21.
2023
Examples updated to use the minimum wage rates for 2023 to 2024.
Working hours for which the minimum wage must be paid
Examples updated to use the minimum wage rates for 2023 to 2024.
Examples updated to use the minimum wage rates for 2023 to 2024.
2022
Eligibility for the minimum wage
Added section on gig economy / platform-based workers.
Text updated to refer to 2022 to 2023 rates.
New section added.
Figures in examples changed to 2022 to 2023 rates.
Working hours for which the minimum wage must be paid
Examples updated to use minimum wage rates for the period 2022 to 2023.
Examples updated to use minimum wage rates for the period 2022 to 2023.
2021
Eligibility for the minimum wage
Apprentices: Guidance on paying the correct minimum wage rate to apprentices expanded to set out statutory apprenticeship agreements and contracts of apprenticeship
Working hours for which the minimum wage must be paid
Sleep-in shifts: examples added to clarify the position in light of the 2021 Supreme Court judgment.
Working hours for which the minimum wage must be paid
Guidance on sleep-in shifts being reviewed in light of a Supreme Court judgment.