New law Employment 15 June 2026 3 min read

National Minimum Wage rises to £12.60 per hour from April 2026

The Low Pay Commission recommended a 6.7% increase for workers aged 21 and over. Apprentice and under-18 rates also rise.

From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over rises from £11.44 to £12.60 per hour. The rate for 18–20 year olds increases to £10.00, and the apprentice rate to £7.55. These rates were set following the Low Pay Commission's annual review and are legally binding on all employers in Great Britain.

Employers who fail to pay the statutory minimum commit a criminal offence and face financial penalties of up to 200% of the arrears, capped at £20,000 per worker. GOV.UK publishes a checker tool to verify entitlement for different types of work. Workers can report non-payment to HMRC's Pay and Work Rights helpline.

The full current rate table is published on legislation.gov.uk as The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025.

Area Employment

Type New law

Published 15 June 2026

Status In force / published

What this means in practice

This new law affects Employment matters in England & Wales. It is now published and applies. If this area of law is relevant to your situation, review any contracts, notices or deadlines that may be affected. Use the calculator to check deadlines or interest affected by this change.

Read the official text

legislation.gov.uk Parliament.uk — Bills BAILII — Judgments GOV.UK UK Supreme Court EUR-Lex

Primary source

National Minimum Wage Act 1998 — legislation.gov.uk

This item summarises a legal development for general information only. It is not legal advice. Always check the official text and, for your own situation, consult a qualified lawyer.

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