Rates from 1 October 2011

The NMW rates are reviewed each year by the Low Pay Commission and from 1 October 2011:

• the main rate for workers aged 21 and over will increase to £6.08
• the 18-20 rate will increase to £4.98
• the 16-17 rate for workers above school leaving age but under 18 will increase to £3.68 
• the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship will increase to £2.60

For more information please visit http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TheNationalMinimumWage/DG_10027201

Alternatively contact a Magna Consultant on 01455 559933

AWR – Explained

The Agency Workers Directive European legislation became law on 5 December 2008. All EU member states had three years from that date to implement the Directive via their own national legislation.

The Regulations will come into force in England, Scotland and Wales on 1 October 2011. The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is currently working on guidance to assist clients and agencies to implement the Regulations correctly. The Recruitment Employment Confederation (REC) is working closely with BIS on this guidance, an initial draft of which was released in April 2011.

The Regulations will give agency workers the right to the same basic working and employment conditions as staff doing the same job employed on a permanent basis by the client; this is limited to conditions that relate to pay, working time and access to on-site facilities. Clients will also be required to advise of vacancies which arise in the client’s business.

Qualifying for equal pay

Agency workers will need to qualify in order to be entitled to receive equal pay. This will require working for 12 consecutive weeks for the same client in the same role.

For more information please visit  http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/employment-matters/docs/a/11-949-agency-workers-regulations-guidance.pdf

For more information regarding the above and how you will be individually affected please contact the following consultants on 01455 559933;

Industrial/Clerical Agency Workers – contact Kim Veasey or Jess Frost

HGV Agency Drivers – contact Doug Snowden or Carl Wetton