New National Minimum Wage rates - October 2008
Note: This is our original regulation update text, published on 22 July 2008. Unlike the rest of our site, this archived material is not updated if the law changes.
For an overview of current law in this area, see our guide: Understanding national minimum wage law
Relevant to
All employers in Great Britain
Took effect on
1 October 2008
From 1 October 2008, new National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates will come into force. The NMW applies to nearly all workers and sets hourly rates below which you must not allow pay to fall.
For pay reference periods beginning on or after 1 October 2008, you will have to pay all eligible workers the following:
- £5.73 an hour to adult workers aged 22 and above
- £4.77 an hour to workers aged 18-21 - the development rate
- £3.53 an hour to workers aged below 18 who are no longer of compulsory school age
The daily accommodation offset
You will be able to offset from the NMW an amount of £4.46 per day for each day that you provide a worker with living accommodation.
Workers eligible for NMW include:
- homeworkers
- part-time workers
- casual workers
- agency workers
- people who work on short-term contracts
Other changes under these regulations are in force as of July 2008 and affect NMW exemption periods for Jobcentre Work Trials. For more information, see our Regulation Update on increased flexibility for Jobcentre Plus Work Trials.
Full title of regulation
National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2008 [SI 2008 1894]

National Minimum Wage Helpline
0845 6000 678

Actions
- National Minimum Wage information on the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills website - Opens in a new window
- For an overview of current law in this area, see our guide: Understanding national minimum wage law
- Get a personalised list of regulations from our Regulation checklist

