National Minimum Wage (NMW)

A powerful friend - the Pay and Work Rights Helpline

Use the links on the right for further information on:

  • the National Minimum Wage
  • working hour limits
  • employment agencies
  • the Agricultural Minimum Wage
  • working for a gangmaster

Or follow the link below for general information on your basic employment rights.

Basic employment rights

If you have a question or complaint you can call the free Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368.

Calls are free from landlines; call charges from mobiles vary

Help with other employment rights

Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) can give you advice on other employment rights (for example, your holiday rights, sick pay and unfair dismissal). Call the Acas helpline on 08457 47 47 47 if you need help understanding these rights, or go to their website for more details.

Contact Acas

Not getting the National Minimum Wage of £5.80 an hour?

Workers aged 22 or over should get the National Minimum Wage of £5.80. If you think you are paid less, call the free Pay and Work Rights Helpline in confidence for help getting you what you are entitled to.

Find out about the National Minimum Wage – everything you need to know

Forced to work long hours?

You cannot be made to work longer than an average 48 hour-week if you don’t want to. If you are working longer, call the free Pay and Work Rights Helpline in confidence and they will look into it for you.

Money being taken unfairly from your pay?

You should not have unfair deductions taken from your pay for things like your uniform or safety equipment. If you think this is happening, call the free Pay and Work Rights Helpline in confidence and they will help you get what you are entitled to.

Agency charging you a ‘job-finder’s fee’?

Employment agencies can’t charge you a fee for finding or trying to find you work. If yours is, call the free Pay and Work Rights Helpline in confidence and they will look into it for you.

Working in agriculture?

Agricultural workers have different rights from other workers. If you are worried about your pay, hours or treatment, call the free Pay and Work Rights Helpline in confidence for help.

Using a gangmaster?

If you work for a gangmaster you have employment rights. Gangmasters are licensed by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA)

Find out more about what you are entitled to on the GLA website

Additional links

helpline

If you call the helpline during the week beginning Monday 18th January, you may be asked to take part in a survey about the helpline and campaign more generally.

The survey is totally confidential and you don’t have to take part if you don’t want to. All enquiries will be dealt with as normal.

Help in other languages
Use the online enquiry form

If you don’t want to call, you can use the online form to contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline with your questions