Research and analysis

Minimum wage underpayment in 2021

The Low Pay Commission's report on non-compliance and enforcement of the National Minimum Wage in 2021.

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This short report by the Low Pay Commission (LPC) looks at the problem of minimum wage underpayment in 2021. It examines the evidence on how many workers are underpaid and sets out the main challenges for the Government in enforcing the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and promoting compliance. It assesses progress against recommendations the LPC has made in recent years.

If you are concerned about underpayment of the minimum wage, use HMRC’s online form or contact the ACAS helpline.

If you are looking for information on calculating the minimum wage, view the official Government guidance here.

The table below sets out the current rates of the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage:

Rate from April 2021 Previous rate Increase
National Living Wage £8.91 £8.72 2.2%
21-22 Year Old Rate £8.36 £8.20 2.0%
18-20 Year Old Rate £6.56 £6.45 1.7%
16-17 Year Old Rate £4.62 £4.55 1.5%
Apprentice Rate £4.30 £4.15 3.6%
Accommodation Offset £8.36 £8.20 2.0%

Updates to this page

Published 11 May 2021

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