The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 sets out the basic legal framework for the national minimum wage (NMW) a worker is entitled to per hour in the United Kingdom. Later amendments to this Act incorporate the National Living Wage (NLW). This wage is based on the worker's age, and there is also a specific minimum rate for apprentices. The Act also made amends to agricultural workers’ legislation, and acts as a framework that provides for the detailed provision of its operation in Regulations.
It is a legal requirement for employers to pay workers the national minimum wage, and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have the authority to take employers to court if they are not paying their workers the national minimum wage.
