Who can get the minimum wage?

Most adult workers who:

• Are working legally in the UK

• Are not genuinely self-employed

• Have a written, oral or implied contract

What are the current rates of the national minimum wage?

There are three levels of minimum wage, and the rates from 1 October 2008 are:

• £5.73 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older

• A development rate of £4.77 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive

• £3.53 per hour for all workers under the age of 18, who are no longer of compulsory school age

Holiday Pay Rights

There is a minimum right to paid holiday, but your employer may offer more than this. The main things you should know about holiday rights are:

• you are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks times your usual working week

• those working part time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata (so 5.6 times your usual working week)

• you start building up holiday as soon as you start work

• your employer can control when you take your holiday

• you get paid your normal pay for your holiday

• when you finish a job, you get paid for any holiday you have not taken

• bank and public holidays can be included in your minimum entitlement

• you continue to be entitled to your holiday leave throughout your ordinary and additional maternity leave and paternity and adoption leave