The Government has published the National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2010 SI 2010/1901, which will raise the principal rate of the national minimum wage from £5.80 to £5.93 per hour from 1 October this year. In a noteworthy change, the age from which the principal rate becomes payable falls from 22 to 21. Workers aged between 18 and 20 will see their rate rise from £4.83 to £4.92 and the rate to be paid to workers aged below 18 who have ceased to be of compulsory school age rises from £3.57 to £3.64 per hour.

The Regulations also provide for a national minimum wage at the rate of £2.50 per hour for apprentices who are employed under a contract of apprenticeship or who are engaged under certain Government arrangements in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. And finally, the amount permitted to be taken into account where accommodation is provided to the employer rise from £4.51 to £4.61 per day.