National Minimum Wage Act, 1998 (United Kingdom)

National Minimum Wage Act, 1998

The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 creates a minimum wage across the United Kingdom. From 1 April 2022 this was £9.50 for people age 23 and over, £9.18 for 21- to 22-year-olds, £6.83 for 18- to 20-year-olds, £4.81 for people under 18 and apprentices.

The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 applies to workers, that is, employees, and anyone who has a contract to do work personally, other than for a customer or a client. Those working through agencies are included , so that the agencies’ charges must not reduce a worker’s basic entitlement.

Home-workers are also included, and the Secretary of State can make order for other inclusions. The Secretary of State can also make exclusions, as has been done for au pairs and family members in a family business. Share fishermen paid by a share of profits are excluded, as are unpaid volunteers and prisoners .