The new rates are as follows:
- The standard adult rate (workers aged 21 and over) will increase from £6.19 to £6.31 per hour;
- The development rate (workers between 18 and 20) will increase from £4.98 to £5.03 per hour;
- The young workers rate (workers under 18 but above compulsory school age) will increase from £3.68 to £3.72 per hour;
- The apprentice rate will increase from £2.65 to £2.68 per hour.
In addition, the accommodation offset limit (if the employer provides a worker with free accommodation) will increase from £4.82 to £4.91 per day.
The Government is working on simplifying the current national minimum wage legislation, by introducing a single set of consolidated regulations to replace the existing set of 17 regulations. This was originally expected to take effect in April 2013, but is still in progress and is now expected to take effect, following consultation, at some point during the current Parliament.