Employment Law Solicitors And The Minimum Wage
The UK’s national minimum wage (NMW) is set to increase from October 2010, with employment law solicitors warning companies to make sure they are prepared. After recent revelations in the press that interns have been illegally exploited by their ‘employers,’ the overriding advice is to be prepared now to prevent potentially costly employment tribunal claims in the future.
Both employment law solicitors and workers’ rights groups have been happy to see the new, higher levels of pay. The reduction of the qualifying age for the highest level of pay from 22 to 21 has been most popular. This entitles those aged 21 and over to earn £5.93 per hour. Those aged between 18 and 20 must earn at least £4.92. And workers aged 16 and 17 who have left compulsory education can legally expect to earn £3.64 per hour. Naturally, there are some exceptions to this legislation. Employment law solicitors have been very careful to make it known that interns are entitled to receive the national minimum wage for their work.
Amongst the changes to the legislation is the introduction for the first time of a minimum wage for apprentices. Apprentices under 19 must be paid £2.50 an hour or more. Older apprentices must be paid this rate or more in the first year of the apprenticeship.
Employment law solicitors and low pay campaigners have long been trying to get across the message that even trainees and interns are entitled to the minimum wage. In fact, most UK workers over school leaving age must be paid the minimum wage. This is regardless of how often they are paid or by what means. It makes no difference whether they are full or part time workers.
Employment law solicitors advise that very few people are not entitled to the minimum wage, but they include: prisoners, the armed forces and the self-employed. It is certainly advisable, say employment law solicitors to be aware of the law and to prepare for it as a way of preventing costly tribunal claims in the future.
Tags: Apprentices, Apprenticeship, Armed Forces, Campaigners, Compulsory Education, Costly Employment, employment law solicitors, Employment Tribunal, Exceptions, Interns, legislation, National Minimum Wage, Nmw, Part Time, Prisoners, Revelations, Rights Groups, Solicitors Uk, Time Workers, Trainees