All the details of the new national minimum wage, who is covered and how it should be
applied, is set out below. The National Minimum Wage remains pathetically low. The only
thing the National Minimum Wage actually guarantees is that those forced to live off them will
be trapped in a life of permanent poverty. The current coronavirus crisis has shown just how
critical minimum wage workers are to the economy and keeping people safe.

Millions of workers on poverty pay, in the likes care homes, supermarkets and the NHS, are risking their
health to keep society functioning. Once the crisis is passed gross inequality must come to an
end. But that will only come about by people getting organised and fighting back.

New Minimum Wage Rates from 1st of April
● £8.72 per hour for ages 25 and over.
● £8.20 per hour for ages 21 to 24.
● £6.45 per hour for ages 18 to 20.
● £4.55 per hour for those under 18.
● £4.15 per hour for Apprentices
For your boss to pay the apprenticeship rate there must be a genuine apprenticeship
agreement in place. This agreement must be based on training being the main purpose of the
agreement with working being secondary.

The apprenticeship rate only applies to apprentices aged:
● under 19
● 19 or over who are in the first year of their apprenticeship.

Apprentices aged 19 or over in their second year of apprenticeship must receive the
National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage Rate their age entitles them too.

It is important to remember that although the new rates come in on April 1st 2018, it
does not mean that your rate of pay will increase from that date. The new rates apply to the
next pay reference period that begins on or after April 1st. One way of calculating this is to
use the date you get paid. For example, if you get paid on April 15th each month the new
rate of wage will apply to all hours worked from April 16th onwards. This does mean that
those who get paid towards the end of April miss out in that they have to wait longer, in
some cases by nearly a month, before they get the pay increase.

Most workers are entitled to either the National Minimum or National Living Wage. Including
pieceworkers, home workers, agency workers, commission workers, part-time
workers and casual workers. Under certain circumstances, Interns are also entitled to be
paid the National Minimum or National Living Wage

The following people are not entitled the National Minimum or National Living Wage under
current Government rules:
● Those who are genuinely self-employed
● volunteers or voluntary workers
● company directors
● members of the armed forces
● family members, or people who live in the family home of the employer who
undertakes household tasks
● work experience students, depending on the length of their placement.

The minimum wage should be paid from the moment you start work and should be paid
even if you work only for a few hours or you are the only person employed.
Tips, gratuities, service charges and cover charges do not count towards minimum and
living wage pay. This is regardless of whether they are paid through your payroll or are given
direct to workers by customers or a tronc master. For example, if you work as a waiter and
receive tips, your boss must pay you the minimum or living wage on top of any money you
receive as tips.

Enhanced rates of pay for working overtime, weekends, bank holidays, unsocial hours
London Waiting etc do not count towards the National Minimum or National Living Wage
and as such should not be included when calculating your pay.
Deductions from your pay, or payments made to you, for items or expenses that are
connected with the job do not count when calculating your minimum or living wage rate.
This could include, for example travelling expenses or safety clothing, uniforms, tools or other
equipment needed for the job.

Contact Solfed for advice about how to go organise in your workplace or if you wish to
attend a SolFed Workplace Organiser Training Course.