The UK Government is committed to increasing support for lower earners and improving the rewards to work. The National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) (together referred to as ‘minimum wage’) provide protection to low income workers and incentives to work. The minimum wage helps business by driving fairness in the labour market ensuring that competition is based on the quality of goods and services provided and not on low prices driven by low rates of pay.
Anyone entitled to be paid minimum wage should receive it. The enforcement of the minimum wage is therefore essential, and the UK Government are committed to cracking down on employers who break the law in this area in all sectors across the economy.
Guidance on calculating the minimum wage, to help employers meet National Minimum Wage legislation is available here: Calculating the minimum wage - Guidance - GOV.UK
For further information please select the following link: National Minimum Wage: policy on enforcement, prosecutions and naming employers who break National Minimum Wage law - GOV.UK
The Welsh Government encourages all employers that can afford to do so to ensure their employees receive an hourly rate of pay that reflects the costs of living, not just the statutory minimum. The voluntary Real Living Wage is independently calculated based on what people need to get by and is higher than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.
Find out more at the following link: Living Wage Wales