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Pay rates will increase in October 2008 for workers on the National Minimum Wage.
The Prime Minister announced today (5 March) that the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will rise again in October.
It is estimated that the increases will benefit 39,000 workers in Northern Ireland and around one million throughout the UK, two thirds of whom are women.
From 1 October 2008 anyone aged 22 years and above will be entitled to £5.73 per hour, an increase of 21p. Workers aged 18-21 will have a right to £4.77 per hour, up 17p, and those aged 16-17 will be entitled to £3.53, a rise of 13p per hour.
Citizens Advice welcomed the announcement of the higher rates, which were recommended by the Low Pay Commission.
The Government has also boosted funding for enforcement of the NMW and is planning new penalties for rogue employers who underpay staff as part of the Employment Bill which is now before Parliament.
Citizens Advice operates the NMW helpline in Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and works in partnership with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs compliance team here. The helpline offers impartial and confidential advice to workers and employers on all aspects of minimum wage legislation.
Diane Wilson, NMW helpline manager, said:
The helpline receives a high number of calls from workers querying their take-home pay; many of them are not aware that their employer is breaking the law if they are paying below minimum wage. Workers have the right to be paid arrears of wages as well.
Since the introduction of the legislation the NMW Helpline has helped over 5,000 Northern Ireland workers and the HMRC compliance team has identified arrears of more than £2.5 million in the province.
Ms Wilson added:
Lines are open 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday. Outside these hours there is an answering service. Language line translation is available for those whose first language is not English.
Citizens Advice is an independent charity that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. Click www.citizensadvice.co.uk
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