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National living wage

The UK government introduced a new minimum wage rate for all but the youngest workers, the national living wage, in 2016. Initially, it was for those aged 25 and over, but it is now for anyone aged 21 and over.

In 2024, the Labour government confirmed plans to apply the wage rate to all adults.

The national living wage (NLW) is compulsory and the Low Pay Commission (LPC) recommends future rises, maintaining it at two-thirds of median hourly earnings and, from 2025, taking into account the cost of living.

The national living wage is different to the Living Wage, a voluntary pay rate independently set by the Living Wage Foundation. The ‘real’ Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.


    • National living wage
    • Written statement of employment particulars
    • Latest News

    Amazon delivery drivers launch claim for employment rights

    by Jo Faragher 13 Oct 2021
    by Jo Faragher 13 Oct 2021

    Law firm Leigh Day is looking to launch group action against Amazon to secure employment rights for drivers.
    It will...

    • National living wage
    • Latest News
    • Economics, government & business

    Johnson set to announce £9.42 national living wage

    by Jo Faragher 6 Oct 2021
    by Jo Faragher 6 Oct 2021

    Boris Johnson is set to increase the national living wage to £9.42 an hour

    • National living wage
    • Latest News
    • Economics, government & business

    Labour members vote for £15 minimum wage

    by Personnel Today 29 Sep 2021
    by Personnel Today 29 Sep 2021

    Labour members have voted in favour of introducing a £15 national minimum wage if the party gains power.
    The vote,...

    • National living wage
    • Latest News
    • Retail

    John Lewis staff launch petition to raise wages

    by Jo Faragher 6 Sep 2021
    by Jo Faragher 6 Sep 2021

    Staff at John Lewis have launched a campaign via the Organise platform urging the retailer to improve their wages.
    A...

    • National living wage
    • Latest News
    • Pay & benefits

    HMRC reveals 10 ‘most ridiculous’ excuses for minimum wage breaches

    by Ashleigh Webber 17 Aug 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 17 Aug 2021

    Employers tried to claim workers were too young to be paid the minimum rate or had signed contracts opting them out of the entitlement.

    • National living wage
    • Latest News
    • Pay & benefits

    John Lewis and McColl’s among firms that paid staff below minimum wage

    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Aug 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Aug 2021

    The government has ‘named and shamed’ 191 employers who breached minimum wage requirements.

    • National living wage
    • Written statement of employment particulars
    • Coronavirus

    Low-paid workers at greatest risk of redundancy

    by Jo Faragher 7 Jun 2021
    by Jo Faragher 7 Jun 2021

    Low-paid workers are at greatest risk of losing their jobs when the government’s furlough scheme closes, new research has found.

    • National living wage
    • Latest News
    • Furlough

    Pandemic has increased risk of minimum wage breaches

    by Ashleigh Webber 12 May 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 12 May 2021

    The Low Pay Commission has said the furlough scheme has meant determining the extent of national minimum wage underpayment has been difficult.

    • Adoption
    • National living wage
    • IR35

    April 2021 employment law changes: five things for HR to do

    by Stephen Simpson 6 Apr 2021
    by Stephen Simpson 6 Apr 2021

    An annual update on the changes to employment law that are happening in April 2021 – IR35, national living wage, statutory pay rates...

    • National living wage
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    Uber agrees to give drivers minimum wage and employment rights

    by Jo Faragher 17 Mar 2021
    by Jo Faragher 17 Mar 2021

    Following the Supreme Court ruling that its drivers are workers, Uber is giving its UK drivers a guaranteed minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions.

    • National living wage
    • Latest News
    • Pay & benefits

    National living wage: the workers getting a 9% pay rise on 1 April

    by Ashleigh Webber 9 Mar 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 9 Mar 2021

    From 1 April 2021 thousands of low paid workers will receive a pay rise of almost 9%.

    • National living wage
    • Compensation
    • Latest News

    Morrisons £10 an hour pay deal is first for UK supermarket

    by Jo Faragher 13 Jan 2021
    by Jo Faragher 13 Jan 2021

    Supermarket chain Morrisons has promised to pay staff a minimum of £10 an hour in a new pay deal that...

    • National living wage
    • Latest News
    • Pay & benefits

    Part-time, low-paid and ethnic minority workers facing poverty

    by Ashleigh Webber 13 Jan 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 13 Jan 2021

    Part-time, low-paid and ethnic minority workers are among those struggling most to stay afloat during the current economic crisis, but...

    • National living wage
    • Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
    • Latest News

    Employers flouted minimum wage rules to tune of £6.7m

    by Jo Faragher 4 Jan 2021
    by Jo Faragher 4 Jan 2021

    Household names such as Tesco, Pizza Hut and Superdrug are among 139 firms that have breached minimum wage rules, according to the government.

    • National living wage
    • Coronavirus
    • Latest News

    Pandemic will push down global wage levels

    by Jo Faragher 7 Dec 2020
    by Jo Faragher 7 Dec 2020

    The Covid-19 crisis will inflict ‘massive downward pressure’ on wage levels globally, according to research from the International Labour Organisation....

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Personnel Today
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