| The UK's national minimum wage (NMW) is set to | | | | the legislation. One of the main things that |
| increase from the beginning of October this year, | | | | employment law solicitors want people to realise is |
| with employment law solicitors warning companies | | | | that interns are entitled to be paid the NMW. |
| to make sure they are prepared. The changes will | | | | Amongst the changes to the legislation is the |
| affect many thousands of the UK's youngest and | | | | introduction for the first time of a minimum wage |
| lowest paid workers as well as the companies | | | | for apprentices. Those under 19 must earn |
| they work for. After recent revelations in the | | | | £2.50 an hour. This rate also applies to older |
| press that interns have been illegally exploited by | | | | apprentices who are in their first year of training. |
| their 'employers,' the overriding advice is to be | | | | According to employment law solicitors, trainees |
| prepared now to prevent potentially costly | | | | and interns must also be paid the minimum wage. |
| employment tribunal claims in the future which | | | | Indeed, the minimum wage applies to almost all |
| could see companies paying back dated pay as | | | | UK workers who are older than compulsory |
| well as compensation. | | | | school leaving age. This is regardless of how often |
| Both employment law solicitors and workers' | | | | they are paid or by what means. The legislation |
| rights groups have been happy to see the new, | | | | applied to both full and part time workers. |
| higher levels of pay which they claim will make life | | | | The advice from employment law solicitors is that |
| fairer and more affordable for thousands of | | | | the only people who are not entitled to the NMW |
| workers in the United Kingdom. One facet of the | | | | are self-employed, students on work experience |
| legislation which has been widely welcomed is the | | | | lasting less than a year, prisoners, members of |
| reduction from 22 to 21 of the qualifiying age for | | | | the armed forces and people taking part in certain |
| the highest level of pay. This entitles those aged | | | | government work experience schemes. It is |
| 21 and over to earn £5.93 per hour. Employees | | | | absolutely vital, say employment law solicitors, |
| aged 18 to 20 must earn at least ٢.92. Also, 16 | | | | that companies are prepared for the changes in |
| and 17 year olds who have left full time | | | | order to prevent themselves from falling victim to |
| compulsory education can expect to earn ١.64 an | | | | costly legal challenges. |
| hour. Obviously, there are some exceptions to | | | | |