National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage changes from April 2021
Under the minimum wage legislation, workers must be paid at least the statutory minimum wage for their age. There are two types of minimum wage – the National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
From 1 April 2021, as well as the usual annual increases, the age threshold for the National Living Wage is reduced.
National Living Wage
The NLW is a higher statutory minimum wage payable to workers whose age is above NLW age threshold. Prior to 1 April 2021, it was payable to workers age 25 and above. From 1 April 2021, the NLW age threshold is reduced; from that date it must be paid to workers aged 23 and above.
National Minimum Wage
The NMW is payable to workers who are below the age of entitlement to the NLW. Prior to 1 April 2021, the NMW applied to workers above compulsory school leaving age and under the age of 25; from 1 April 2021, the NMW must be paid to workers under the age of 23 and over the school leaving age.
There are three NMW age bands:
- Firstly, workers aged 21 and 22 (prior to 1 April 2021, it applied to workers aged 21 to 24).
- Secondly, workers aged 18 to 20.
- The third band applies to workers aged 16 and 17.
Apprentices
There is also a separate NMW rate for apprentices. It is payable to apprentices under the age of 19 and also to those who are over the age of 19 and in the first year of their apprenticeship.
Rates from 1 April 2021
| NLW: Workers aged 23 and above | NMW: Workers aged 21 and 22 | NMW: Workers aged 18 to 20 | NMW: Workers aged 16 and 17 | NMW: Apprentice rate | Accommodation offset |
| £8.91 per hour | £8.36 per hour | £6.56 per hour | £4.62 per hour | £4.30 per hours | £8.36 per day £58.52 per week |
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