The Government has announced the following increases to the national minimum wage rates from 1st April 2026.
- 21 and over – from £12.21 to £12.71ph
- 18-20 – from £10 to £10.85ph
- 16-17 and apprentices – from £7.55 to £8ph
HR teams and employers should review pay structures and budgets asap, particularly where rises may create pressure on differentials and compression between pay bands. HR and payroll systems need to be prepared.
The naughty list
Companies that fail a compliance check from HMRC can be named and shamed on a published list. The list shows the number of employees affected as well as the total underpayment found by HMRC. These underpayments can also be accompanied by a fine for 200% of their value.
Further reading
- The Low Pay Commission plans for national living wage from next year – Hunter Law
- National minimum wage rates – Gov.uk
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