National minimum wage
National minimum wage rates are set to increase with effect from April 2022.
The new minimum hourly rates are as follows:
| Age | Rate from 1 April 2022 | Rates from 1 April 2021 |
| 23 years and over (National Living Wage) | £9.50 | £8.91 |
| 21 years to 22 years | £9.18 | £8.36 |
| 18 years to 20 years | £6.83 | £6.56 |
| Under 18 years | £4.81 | £4.62 |
| Apprentices aged under 19, or aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship | £4.81 | £4.30 |
Statutory payments
| Statutory payment | Weekly rates from April 2021 |
| Statutory sick pay* | £96.35 |
| Statutory Maternity Pay for the first 6 weeks of maternity leave | 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings |
| Statutory Maternity Pay for remaining period of maternity leave | £151.97 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower |
| Statutory Paternity Pay | £151.97 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower |
| Statutory Shared Parental Pay | £151.97 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower |
| Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay | £151.97 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower |
| Maternity Allowance | £151.97 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower |
| Statutory Adoption Pay for the first 6 weeks of maternity leave | 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings |
| Statutory Adoption Pay for remaining period of maternity leave | £151.97 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower |
* Although the same weekly rate applies to all employees for SSP, the amount payable per day an employee is absent will depend on the number of ‘qualifying days’ they work each week.
Employer solutions
As a team of employer solutions lawyers, our employment law experts are on hand to answer any questions you may have about changes in the national minimum wage or statutory entitlements. For specialist employment law advice, speak to us.
Last updated: 26 October 2021
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals