National Minimum Wage
Policy background on changes to the National Minimum Wage rates and law - including the Government's evidence to the Low Pay Commission on the National Minimum Wage
Guidance for employers and workers
General guidance on the National Minimum Wage - including the current rates - can be found on Directgov (for workers) or businesslink.gov.uk (for employers). A National Minimum Wage entitlement, rate and arrears checker is also available on businesslink.gov.uk.
Government evidence to the Low Pay Commission
Each year the Government submits evidence on the National Minimum Wage to the Low Pay Commission. An archive of past reports is available.
The Government has published National Minimum Wage - Government evidence to the Low Pay Commission 2011 (PDF, 657 Kb)
The Government has published National Minimum Wage - Government response to the Low Pay Commission’s 2011 report (PDF, 35 Kb)
Compliance and enforcement
Effective enforcement of the National Minimum Wage is vital to its continuing success. BIS and HM Revenue & Customs are committed to the vision that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage should receive it. The National Minimum Wage Compliance Strategy (PDF, 85 Kb) describes the outcomes that underpin this vision and the tools and techniques that we will use to achieve these outcomes.
HM Revenue & Customs enforces the National Minimum Wage on behalf of BIS. Information about how the National Minimum Wage civil and criminal enforcement operates can be found in National minimum wage : policy on HM Revenue & Customs enforcement, prosecutions and naming employers who flout national minimum wage law (PDF, 108 Kb)
Annual report
The National Minimum Wage Annual Report for 2010/11 (PDF, 129 Kb) was published on 16 December 2011
The National Minimum Wage Annual Report for 2009/10 and Forward Look for 2010/11 (PDF, 70 Kb) was published on 1 October 2010.
Employed students and the accommodation offset
On 18 January the Government published a consultation document, National minimum wage - Employed students and the accommodation offset (PDF, 263 Kb) .
Scheme to name employers who flout National Minimum Wage law
On 1 October 2010 the Government announced a scheme to name employers who flout National Minimum Wage law. The scheme came into effect on 1 January 2011 and employers who meet published criteria will be named in a press notice.
Travel schemes
From 1 January 2011, travel and subsistence expenses that are eligible for tax relief will not count towards NMW pay. Further details can be found at : The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2010
