Wage Rates

Minimum Wage

New National Minimum Wage rates apply across the UK from the 1st October, with the basic level rising 3%.  The new hourly minimum rates (with the old ones in italics) are;

• workers aged 21 years and above – £6.50 (£6.31)
• workers aged between 18 and 20 – £5.13 (£5.03)
• workers who are 17 or 18 – £3.79 (£3.68)
• Apprentice rate – £2.73 (£2.68)

Agricultural Wages

The start of October was, in recent years, the time that new Agricultural Wages Board rates came into force.  Many wage negotiations on farm will still be happening around now. 

In Scotland, or course, the Wages Board still exists.  We reported in July on the new rates for the coming year.  The same article outlined how Wales is to retain a Wages Board, but that this was still in the process of being set up.  Therefore the Principality is still working under the 2012 Wages Order (amended for a higher Minimum Wage).  As this is getting increasingly historic, employers may well have to provide increases above the rates in the Order.  In England, there is no longer any AWB, and the market sets wage levels.  However, many employees would probably like some guidance on increases.  The table below provides a number of figures that may be helpful.

* 12 months to August