Minimum Wages increase – April 2020

The minimum wage has been announced to increase with effect from 1st April 2021. The changes to rates are as follows:

	From April 2020	From April 2021
National Living Wage	£8.72	£8.91
21-22 Year Old*	£8.20	£8.36
18-20 Year Old	£6.45	£6.561
16-17 Year Old	£4.55	£4.62
Apprentice	£4.15	£4.30

*Rate also applies to 23 and 24 year old

The increase from £8.72 per hour to £8.91 per hour will be available to those age 23 and over for the first time – it was previously 25 and over. The reduction in the age threshold has been made following a review into the minimum wage rates made by the Low Pay Commission in late 2019.

Brian Sanderson of the Low Pay Commission said: “Recommending minimum wage rates in the midst of an economic crisis coupled with a pandemic is a formidable task. The difficulty in looking forward even to next April is daunting.”

“We have opted for a prudent increase which consolidates the considerable progress of recent years and provides a base from which we can move towards the Government’s target over the next few years.”