EMPLOYMENT LAW CHANGES IN APRIL 2024
From April 2024, the rates that are set by the Government each year, are set to increase. Below is a summary of the key changes to be aware of:
Increases to the UK National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage
From April 2024, the new hourly rates are as follows:
- Age 21 and over – £11.44 (the National Living Wage) Now applicable for all adults 21 and over
- Age 18 – 20 – £8.60
- Under 18 – £6.40
- Apprenticeship rate (minimum hourly rate) – £6.40
In addition, if an employer provides a worker with accommodation, some of its value can be counted towards the National Minimum Wage (referred to as the ‘accommodation offset’). An employer cannot deduct more than the accommodation offset from the worker’s minimum wage figure. The accommodation offset is £9.99 per day from April 2024.
Increases to statutory family-related pay and sick pay
Sick pay will increase to £116.75 per week and statutory family related pay will increase to £184.03 per week.
Annual Tribunal Limit Increase
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2024 has been published, with the regular annual increase in Tribunal limits. The key increases are:
Compensatory award – £115,115 (previously £105,707)
- A week’s pay (for basic award and redundancy payments) – £700 (previously £643)
Vento guidelines
The annual update to vento bands for injury to feelings has been confirmed to be as follows:
- Lower band = £1,200 – £11,700
- Middle band = £11,700 to £35,200
- Upper Band = £35,200 to £58,700
Take a look at our Key Facts and Figures page to see all new rates set by the Government commencing April 2024.
Immigration rates
The general salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker route are to increase from 4 April 2024. The increases are as follows:
- The minimum annual salary requirement (for new hires) rises from £26,200 to £38,700 gross per year.
- The minimum annual salary requirement (for existing Skilled Workers) = £26,200 to £29,000 gross per year.
- The minimum hourly rate = £10.10 per hour to £15.88 per hour.
- The minimum gross annual salary for an eligible PhD-qualified job = £23,580 to £34,830 gross per year.
- The minimum gross annual salary for (i) shortage occupation list roles; (ii) some STEM and health care roles; and (iii) for those recruits who are classified as new entrants = £20,960 to £30,960 gross per year
Under the Skilled Worker route each role is assigned a “standard occupational classification code” under which UKVI has set a “going rate” for salary that needs to be borne in mind when calculating the minimum salary threshold. The government has announced new going rate figures based on a 37.5-hour working week rather than a 39-hour week.
The rises described above do not apply retrospectively so employers do not need to increase the wages of current employees on skilled worker visas until the worker applies to extend their skilled worker visa.
From 4 April 2024, the going rates for new arrivals will be increased from the 25th percentile to the median (50th percentile) for each occupation code.
