Minimum and National Living Wage Rates to Increase

In the Autumn Statement the Government announced that it will be increasing the National Living Wage (“NLW”), the National Minimum Wage (“NMW”) and the apprentice rate from 1st April 2023. The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission (LPC) recommendations in full. The move is part of the government’s attempts to reach a national living wage rate of two-thirds of median UK earnings by 2024.

The rates from 1 April 2023 will be:

• NLW (for workers aged 23 and over) £10.42
• Apprentices £5.28
• Ages 16-17 £5.28
• Ages 18-20 £7.49
• Ages 21-22 £10.18

The NMW is enforced by HMRC. The enforcement measures available include service of notices of underpayment, civil penalties, “naming and shaming”, recovery of underpayments through tribunals or civil courts, and criminal prosecution.

If you are concerned that you may not have paid employees in accordance with their entitlements, please get in touch with one of our Employment experts on 0161 832 3434.