Collection

National Minimum Wage and Living Wage

This collection brings together all documents about the the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.

Published 30 September 2014
Last updated 17 December 2018 — see all updates

• From: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and HM Revenue & Customs

The National Minimum Wage is the minimum pay per hour almost all workers are entitled to. The National Living Wage is higher than the National Minimum Wage - workers get it if they’re over 25.

Guidance for employers and workers

1. Calculating the minimum wage
   • 1 April 2019
   • Guidance
2. National living wage (NLW)
   • 1 April 2016
   • Policy paper
3. National minimum wage rates from 1 October 2014
   • 1 October 2014
   • Guidance
4. National minimum wage: code of best practice on service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges
   • 30 September 2009
   • Guidance

Consultations

You can also view the HM Treasury consultation on travel and subsistence expenses schemes, and the Low Pay Commission (LPC) 2012 NMW review and 2013 NMW review.

1. Salaried workers and salary sacrifice schemes: changing the National Minimum Wage rules
   • 17 December 2018
   • Closed consultation
2. National Minimum Wage: draft consolidated regulations
   • 22 January 2015
   • Consultation outcome
3. Employed students and the accommodation offset
   • 18 January 2011
   • Consultation outcome

Policy documents

Government plans of action on bringing in or enforcing NMW regulation.

1. National minimum wage law: enforcement
   • 1 November 2017
   • Policy paper
2. National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage: Low Pay Commission remit 2017
   • 15 September 2017
   • Policy paper
3. National Minimum Wage: Low Pay Commission remit 2016 (autumn)
   • 14 March 2016
   • Policy paper
4. National Minimum Wage: Low Pay Commission remit 2016
   • 8 July 2015
   • Policy paper
5. National minimum wage: power to set the financial penalty on a per worker basis
   • 31 October 2014
   • Impact assessment
6. National minimum wage compliance strategy
   • 25 March 2010
   • Policy paper

Research reports

You can also view LPC research reports that inform their work.

1. National Minimum Wage evaluation: counterfactual research
   • 5 February 2018
   • Research and analysis
2. Minimum wage underpayment in the informal economy
   • 19 July 2017
   • Research and analysis
3. National minimum wage: understanding the behaviour of workers on less than minimum wage
   • 9 June 2014
   • Research and analysis
4. National minimum wage: Employment Act 2008 - policy changes review
   • 9 June 2014
   • Research and analysis
5. Complying with minimum wage law: employer attitudes and behaviour
   • 19 October 2011
   • Research and analysis

Government evidence to the LPC

Government’s evidence to the LPC on the NMW that cover the UK economy, evidence on pay, the labour market and the youth labour market.

1. National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage: government evidence on compliance and enforcement, 2018
   • 22 September 2018
   • Research and analysis
2. National minimum wage: government evidence to the Low Pay Commission on compliance and enforcement, 2017
   • 19 July 2017
   • Research and analysis
3. National minimum wage: final government evidence for the Low Pay Commission Autumn 2016 report
   • 21 October 2016
   • Research and analysis
4. National minimum wage: final government evidence for the Low Pay Commission Spring 2016 report
   • 29 January 2016
   • Research and analysis
5. National minimum wage: interim government evidence for the Low Pay Commission Spring 2016 report
   • 7 December 2015
   • Research and analysis
6. National minimum wage: interim government evidence for the 2015 Low Pay Commission report
   • 15 October 2014
   • Research and analysis
7. National minimum wage: government evidence for the Low Pay Commission additional assessment
   • 17 January 2014
   • Research and analysis
8. National minimum wage: interim government evidence for the 2014 Low Pay Commission report
   • 17 October 2013
   • Research and analysis
9. National minimum wage: final government evidence to the Low Pay Commission 2012
   • 31 January 2013
   • Research and analysis
10. National minimum wage: interim government evidence to the Low Pay Commission 2012
    • 25 October 2012
    • Research and analysis
11. National minimum wage: final government evidence to the Low Pay Commission 2011
    • 6 February 2012
    • Research and analysis
12. National minimum wage: government evidence to the Low Pay Commission 2011
    • 15 September 2011
    • Research and analysis
13. Low Pay Commission: government evidence (January 2011). Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
    • 14 January 2011
    • Research and analysis
14. Low Pay Commission: government non-economic evidence (2010)
    • 1 October 2010
    • Research and analysis

Government responses to annual LPC reports

Provides the main recommendations on NMW rates in response to the annual LPC reports.

1. National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage: government response to the Low Pay Commission’s Autumn 2017 report
   • 22 November 2017
   • Policy paper
2. National Minimum Wage: response to the Low Pay Commission’s Autumn 2016 report
   • 23 November 2016
   • Policy paper
3. National Minimum Wage: response to the Low Pay Commission’s spring 2016 report
   • 14 March 2016
   • Corporate report
4. National Minimum Wage: report on the 2015 apprentice rate
   • 27 July 2015
   • Policy paper
5. National Minimum Wage: response to the Low Pay Commission’s 2015 report
   • 18 March 2015
   • Corporate report
6. National minimum wage: response to Low Pay Commission 2014 report
   • 12 March 2014
   • Corporate report
7. National minimum wage: government response to the Low Pay Commission’s 2013 report
   • 16 April 2013
   • Corporate report
8. National minimum wage: government response to the Low Pay Commission 2012 report
   • 19 March 2012
   • Guidance

Compliance and enforcement reports

Annual reports on how businesses are complying with NMW regulations and how government is enforcing them.

1. National minimum wage compliance and enforcement: report for 18 months to 30 September 2012
   • 16 January 2013
   • Policy paper
2. National minimum wage annual report 2010 to 2011
   • 16 December 2011
   • Guidance
3. The minimum wage: annual report 2009 to 2010
   • 1 October 2010
   • Guidance

Press releases

1. New National Minimum Wage rates announced
   • 17 March 2015
   • Press release
2. Above inflation rise for National Minimum Wage
   • 1 October 2014
   • Press release
3. Government sets out 2015 minimum wage remit to Low Pay Commission
   • 18 June 2014
   • Press release
4. Lowest paid BIS contractors to benefit from pay rise
   • 28 March 2014
   • Press release
5. One million set to benefit from National Minimum Wage rise to £6.50
   • 12 March 2014
   • Press release
6. The government accepts wage rate recommendations
   • 12 March 2014
   • Press release
7. Government submits National Minimum Wage evidence to Low Pay Commission
   • 16 January 2014
   • Press release
8. Employers underpaying workers risk losing 80% of their business
   • 1 November 2013
   • Press release

Published 30 September 2014
Last updated 17 December 2018 + show all updates

1. 17 December 2018 Salaried workers consultation added
2. 22 September 2018 Added government evidence to the LPC on compliance and enforcement for 2017 to 2018.
3. 5 February 2018 Added counterfactual research.
4. 19 July 2017 Added government evidence to the LPC on compliance and enforcement and research on underpayment in the informal economy.
5. 23 November 2016 Added government response to the Low Pay Commission’s Autumn 2016 report.
6. 21 October 2016 Added government evidence for the Low Pay Commission Autumn 2016 report.
7. 29 January 2016 Added final government evidence to the Low Pay Commission 2016.
8. 12 October 2015 Added 'National minimum wage: interim government evidence to the Low Pay Commission 2016'.
9. 8 July 2015 Added Low Pay Commission remit 2016 document.
10. 18 March 2015 Added government response and a press release about the 2015 National Minimum Wage increase announcement.
11. 15 October 2014 National minimum wage: interim government evidence for the 2015 Low Pay Commission report added.
12. 1 October 2014 Press release added
13. 30 September 2014 First published.