Slovak workers targeted in National Minimum Wage awareness campaign

People from Central and Eastern European countries who work in the UK are being urged to make sure they are getting all the pay to which they are entitled -- in particular, the National Minimum Wage rate of £5.52 per hour. The Government is using the New Year as an opportunity to raise awareness among the Slovak community in Britain, who may be unfamiliar with legislation and therefore vulnerable to exploitation.

The current National Minimum Wage for all employees is £5.52 an hour for workers aged 22 and over, £4.60 for 18-21 year olds and £3.40 for 16-17 year olds. In October 2007 the minimum annual leave entitlement rose from 20 days to 24 days for all full-time workers (pro-rata for part-timers). A further increase to 28 days will come into force on 1 April 2009.

Minister for Employment Relations, Pat McFadden, said: "The national minimum wage is improving working conditions and raising living standards for the most vulnerable people in the workforce. Meanwhile, the rise in annual leave entitlement is making a real difference to the lives of workers across the UK, allowing them to spend more time with their families and within their communities."

Help is at hand for people who think they are not being paid the national minimum wage or who need more advice. The confidential helpline on 0845 6000 678 can help workers get back what they're owed and advice is offered in the caller's own language. In the last year alone the helpline has assisted 14,000 workers recover over £3 million.

More information about the National Minimum Wage and holiday entitlements is available at www.direct.gov.uk/nmw-slovak

Notes for editors

For all press enquires please contact Úna Flynn at the BERR press office on 020 7215 5256 or email una.flynn@berr.gsi.gov.uk

For images of the NMW campaign targeting the Central/Eastern European community contact Media Reach on 020 7751 3333.

1. The NMW, introduced on April 1, 1999, forms part of the Government's overall strategy to establish fairness in the workplace and ensure that all workers receive at least the minimum hourly rates.

2. BERR is responsible for National Minimum Wage policy. HM Revenue and Customs has operational responsibility for enforcing the minimum wage. The confidential NMW helpline number is 0845 6000 678. The number for Northern Ireland is 0845 6500 207. As well as receiving complaints about non-payment of the minimum wage, the helpline provides advice and information.

3. Employers who fail to pay the NMW will have to repay arrears to their workers and may also face criminal prosecution and an unlimited fine. Prosecutions are conducted by HMRC and the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office (RCPO). There have been two successful criminal prosecutions in 2007.

4. The new leave entitlements are not necessarily in addition to bank and public holidays -- whether people get time off or extra pay for these days is a matter for their employment contract. However, the change to the regulations ensures that those workers who do not receive time off on bank or public holidays are still entitled to a minimum 4.8 weeks annual leave.