Given your specific phrasing “National Minimum Wage” and “National Living Wage,” it strongly suggests you are asking about the **United Kingdom**.
In the UK, there are two main categories of statutory minimum pay, which are updated annually, typically every April. The most recent rates came into effect on **1 April 2024**.
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### What are the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW)?
Both the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage are legally mandated minimum hourly pay rates that employers must pay their workers. The key difference lies in the age of the worker:
1. **National Living Wage (NLW):**
* This is the **highest statutory minimum wage rate** in the UK.
* It applies to workers aged **21 and over**.
* *Previously, it applied to those aged 23 and over, but from April 2024, the age threshold was lowered to 21.*
2. **National Minimum Wage (NMW):**
* This applies to workers who are **under the age of 21**.
* There are different rates within the NMW depending on the worker’s age band (18-20, under 18) and a separate rate for apprentices.
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### How much are they worth? (Effective from 1 April 2024)
Here are the current hourly rates:
* **National Living Wage (NLW):**
* For workers **aged 21 and over:** **£11.44 per hour**
* **National Minimum Wage (NMW):**
* For workers **aged 18-20:** **£8.60 per hour**
* For workers **aged under 18:** **£6.40 per hour**
* For **Apprentices:** **£6.40 per hour** (Apprentices are entitled to this rate if they are under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship. If they are 19 or over and have completed the first year of their apprenticeship, they are entitled to the NMW or NLW for their age).
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**Important Notes:**
* These rates are the legal minimums. Many employers choose to pay more.
* The rates are reviewed annually by the government based on recommendations from the Low Pay Commission and typically change on 1 April each year.
* It’s important to distinguish the statutory National Living Wage from the “Real Living Wage” advocated by the Living Wage Foundation. The “Real Living Wage” is a voluntary higher rate calculated independently based on the actual cost of living, but it is not legally binding.
