National Minimum and Living Wage rates go up

The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rise has come into effect today (1 April).

The uplift in wages includes the largest ever increase to the National Living Wage, the minimum wage for over 23 year-olds, which will now move up to £9.50 an hour.

“We have never been more determined to make work pay, and by providing the biggest cash increase ever to the National Living Wage from 1 April, we are giving a boost to millions of UK workers,” Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said.

“While no government can control the global factors pushing up the cost of everyday essentials, we will absolutely act wherever we can to mitigate rising costs.”

Last year, the age threshold for the rate moved from age 25 to 23, meaning that more young workers are now eligible for a higher wage. Apprentices will also get a large 11.9 per cent increase to their minimum hourly pay, with 21 to 22 year-olds seeing an immediate 9.8 per cent rise.

The new rates - announced at the Chancellor’s Spending Review 2021 - were recommended by the independent body the Low Pay Commission.

“The Low Pay Commission met with around 100 representative bodies last year before making its recommendations. We are frequently their main sometimes even their only advocates. With government support we will continue to try to ensure that they do not suffer from the neglect which was so often characteristic of the past,” Bryan Sanderson, Chair of the Low Pay Commission, said.

The government also announced it will be launching a communications campaign in the coming weeks to help increase understanding among minimum and living wage earners around the wages they are legally entitled to, as well as the steps they can take if they are concerned they are being underpaid.

In full, the increases from 1 April 2022 are: