Minimum Wage Rates To Increase From 1 April 2019

National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates will increase from Monday 1 April 2019

Employers should be aware that all minimum wage rates are to increase on 1 April each year. This includes all National Minimum Wage rates, including the apprentice rate, and the National Living Wage rate.

Minimum wage – increased rates
The minimum wage rates will increase on 1 April 2019 to:

  • National Living Wage (25 years old and over) – £8.21
  • National Minimum Wage adult rate (21-24 years old) – £7.70
  • National Minimum Wage (18-20 years old) – £6.15
  • National Minimum Wage (under 18 years old) – £4.35
  • National Minimum Wage (apprentice rate) – £3.90

See National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates.

How can employers prepare for the increase in minimum wage rates?
To ensure you are paying your workers the correct rate of pay employers should:

1. Make sure you are clearly aware of the new minimum wage rates
2. Check that you know who is eligible for which rate in your organisation – your payroll system should alert you to milestone birthdays or other events that lead to a worker qualifying for a different rate ie when they turn 18, 21 and 25 years old or if they are 19 or over and have completed one full year of their apprenticeship
3. Apply the rate through your payroll at the right time ie the first pay reference period after the 1 April 2019

See National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.