Changes to National Minimum Wage & National Living Wage

What are the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage?

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) refer to the minimum rate of pay that a worker is entitled to.

The rate that a worker is entitled to depends on their age and whether they are an apprentice. The NWM is the minimum pay per hour that almost all workers are entitled to. The NLW is higher than the NMW, and workers over the age of 25 are entitled to the NLW. Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they are under the age of 19, or if they are in the first year of their apprenticeship.

It doesn’t matter how large or small a company is, every employer is required to pay the correct minimum wage.

What are the changes?

From 1st April 2019, the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage will be increased for workers both under and over the age of 25.

The new rates of pay, compared to the 2018 rates, are as follows:

25 and over (National Living Wage)

2018 - £7.83
2019 - £8.21

21 - 24

2018 - £7.38
2019 - £7.70

18 - 20

2018 - £5.90
2019 - £6.15

Under 18

2018 - £4.20
2019 - £4.35

Apprentice

2018 - £3.70
2019 - £3.90

Kalcrest’s commitment to our candidates

The mandatory National Minimum Wage was introduced to increase overall pay for people in lower income roles, while the National Living Wage went one step further to benefit workers and give them the ability to better provide for themselves and their families.

But with only those over the age of 25 being entitled to the NLW, there is still room for improvement.

Kalcrest Site Services are committed to our candidates, and to making sure that they all earn a fair and reasonable wage. That’s why every candidate who finds temporary construction work through Kalcrest earns a rate that is above the National Living Wage.

Kalcrest are leading experts at helping skilled construction workers and tradespeople find jobs across the UK. We will identify the roles that best align with your skills and experience to help you enter the next stage of your career.

If you’re looking for your next job, apply for one of our vacancies online, or send a copy of your CV to info@kalcrest.co.uk to find out about our other available jobs.