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Millions of workers across the UK will see their pay increase in April when the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage go up.
The Real Living Wage – a higher amount voluntarily paid by some UK businesses – will remain the same.
What is the National Living Wage and how much is it?
The amount you get depends on your age. Rates apply across the UK.
From 1 April, employees aged 21 and over will be entitled to the National Living Wage. At the moment you have to be 23 to qualify.
If all salaries were arranged in order, the median wage would be the one at the middle point – with half above and half below.
What is the National Minimum Wage and how much is it?If you are 16 or 17, the National Minimum Wage will be £6.40 an hour, up from £5.28 If you are 18, 19 or 20, the National Minimum Wage will be £8.60, up from £7.49
The government says this is the largest ever cash increase to the minimum wage.
The separate apprentice rate, which applies to eligible people under 19 – or those over 19 in the first year of an apprenticeship – will be £6.40 an hour, up from £5.28.
What is the Real Living Wage and how much is it?
The Real Living Wage is an unofficial hourly rate which is overseen by the Living Wage Foundation charity. It is based on what the charity believes people need to earn.
It is aimed at UK workers aged 18 and over but it is not a legal requirement, and businesses choose whether to pay it.
The charity says more than 460,000 employees working for 14,000 firms currently receive the Real Living Wage.
The rate for workers in the capital – sometimes called the London Living Wage – is £13.15 an hour.
In the rest of the UK, it is £12.
A qualifying full-time worker in London would earn £5,323 more than someone on the National Living Wage.
Someone on the Real Living Wage outside the capital would earn £3,081 more than someone on the National Living Wage.
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The charity points out that – unlike the National Minimum Wage – the Real Living Wage has kept up with the rising cost of living.
The CPI measure of inflation rose by 17.4% between September 2021 and September 2023. Over the same period the Real Living Wage for the UK went up by 21.2% (19% for London).
By comparison, the National Minimum Wage increased by less than CPI between April 2021 and April 2023.
Who can’t get the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage?
Those who don’t qualify include:
the self-employedcompany directorsvolunteersmembers of the armed forcespeople living and working in a religious communityprisoners
Those with disabilities or in long-term unemployment who take part in government work programmes are paid fixed amounts at different stages of the scheme.
There are less than the equivalent National Minimum or Living rate.
Do employers have to pay the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage?
Yes, it is a criminal offence if employers fail to pay the correct National Minimum and Living Wages to their workers.
The rates apply to staff even if they are not paid by the hour.
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What happens if employers don’t pay the right National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage?
Any employer not paying the correct amount can be fined by HMRC.
The companies included Marks and Spencer, Argos and Lloyds Pharmacy.
WH Smith was the worst offender, having failed to pay over £1m to more than 17,600 workers.
When were the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage introduced?
The National Minimum Wage came into force under the Labour government in 1999.
It started at £3.60 for those 22 and older, and £3 for 18-21 year olds.
The Conservative government introduced the National Living Wage for workers aged over 25 in 2016.
It was initially set at £7.20 – 50p more than the National Minimum Wage. The qualifying age fell to 23 in 2021.
