NMWM01040 - History of National Minimum Wage and overview of legislation: the National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 and the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015

Relevant legislation

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp legislation that applies to this page is as follows:

  • National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015
  • National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999

National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp original National Minimum Wage Regulations were laid by the Secretary of State for the then Department of Trade and Industry (NMWM02020). »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp draft National Minimum Wage Regulations were given wide public consultation between September and November 1998. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Government also took advice from the newly formed Low Pay Commission (NMWM02010).

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Regulations received parliamentary approval in March 1999 and came into force on 1 April 1999.

National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015

On 6 April 2015, the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015 (“the 2015 Regulationsâ€�) came into force. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappy:

  • remake the National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (“the 1999 Regulationsâ€�), and bring together the numerous changes made to those Regulations since April 1999
  • do not change any of the rules or the policy behind them.

NMW Compliance Officers sometimes refer to legislation in correspondence with customers. As the 1999 Regulations have been revoked from 6 April 2015, any such reference should be to the 2015 Regulations even if referring to a pay reference period which ends before that date.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp regulations:

  • Define the different types of work (NMWM07000)
  • Establish the pay reference period (NMWM09010)
  • Set the rates of National Minimum Wage (NMWM03010)
  • Establish the method to determine whether National Minimum Wage has been paid (NMWM09040)
  • Set out who does not qualify for the National Minimum Wage (NMWM05000)
  • Exempt workers who are still of compulsory school age (NMWM03070) (NMWM05010)
  • Determine what does and does not count as pay (NMWM09000)
  • Determine payments and deductions which are/are not to be subtracted from pay (NMWM11000) and the amount to be taken into consideration when accommodation is provided (NMWM10000)
  • Establish what is and is not regarded as working time and determine the hours worked in a pay reference period for the different types of work
  • Set out the conditions for a “rated output workâ€� system for output work and “daily average agreementsâ€� for unmeasured work
  • Advise employers about the records that need to be kept to show they are compliant.