National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) is the minimum pay per hour most workers are entitled to by law. The rate will depend on a worker's age and if they are an apprentice.

From 1 April 2016, the Government introduced a National Living Wage (NLW) for adults aged 25 or over. The NLW was extended to cover people over 23 from April 2021 and from April 2024, it was further changed to cover people aged 21 and over. The NLW and NMW are reviewed annually and generally uprated in April.

Latest updates

New regulations (26 March 2025): National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI.No.401/2025) - New regulations issued in relation to National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates and pay calculation rules from April 2025 >> More NMW regulations

New regulations (25 March 2024): National Minimum Wage (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (SI.No.432/2024) - New regulations issued in relation to National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates and pay calculation rules from April 2024 >> More NMW regulations

New regulations (23 January 2024): National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI.No.75/2024) - New regulations that provide that work done by a worker residing in the employer’s home and treated as a member of the family is not ‘work’ for the purposes of the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015 >> More NMW regulations