Many employers do not appreciate that this protects workers who may not be employees of the business. All workers aged 16 and over in the UK are entitled to be paid at least the national minimum wage rate. Different rates exist for adult workers, young workers, trainees and apprentices and different rules apply depending upon whether workers are paid hourly, salaried, 'piece workers' or otherwise. The burden of proof is on the employer to demonstrate that the national minimum wage has been paid. A worker who has not received the national minimum wage can claim back pay going all the way back to 1 April 1999 when the national minimum wage was introduced and a deliberate failure to pay the national minimum wage amounts to a criminal offence. This makes the national minimum wage too serious and costly an issue to ignore.

We can advise employers upon all of the different categories of workers entitlement to the national minimum wage. Where appropriate we can provide training to managers.

Through our Employment Matters service we keep our clients updated with all developments in the national minimum wage. This includes all of the increases in the rates of national minimum wage, any changes in the rules and any proposals to extend the scope of the national minimum wage.