A minimum wage is basically the absolute lowest amount of money your employer is legally allowed to pay you for an hour of work. It’s the bottom line set by the federal government that says “You can’t pay workers less than this hourly rate, period” The UK minimum wage per hour for Indian students is £11.44 or Rs 1,140, as per the government’s new announcement which will be effective from 1 April 2024. In our blog, we discuss how this number will help Indian students looking to take up part-time jobs in the UK.
UK Minimum Wage per Hour for Indian Students
In the UK, the minimum wage per hour for Indian students depends on how old you are and what kind of job you’ve got. It is quite different than the minimum wage rates they offer in India. We’ve broken it down for you below in the table, give it a quick glance!
| Age Group (yrs) | UK Minimum Wage Per Hour (March 2024 – April 2024) | Indian Minimum Wage Per Hour (INR) |
| 23 and over | £10.42 per hour | 1075 |
| Between 21 and 22 | £10.18 per hour | 1050 |
| Between 18 and 20 | £7.49 per hour | 773 |
| Below 18 | £5.28 per hour | 544 |
| Apprentice | £5.28 per hour | 544 |
Beginning with apprentices, it gets a little different. If you’re an apprentice, you’ll get paid £5.28 an hour no matter if you’re under 19 or over. That apprentice rate applies if you’re under 19 or over that age.
For example, say you’re 21 and have just started your apprenticeship, you’d still only get £5.28 an hour for that first year. However, once apprentices turn 19 and finish that first year, then you get paid the normal UK minimum wage per hour for Indian students as per your age.
Secondly, if you’re 21 and just finished your first apprentice year, now you’d get £10.18 an hour. But if you’re 25 and just finished your first year, you’d get £10.42 since you’re over the age of 25.
These new numbers are updated every 1st April and last up till March 31st 2025. Additionally, to even qualify for minimum wage in the UK as an Indian student, you have to be over the school leaving age. And the full “National Minimum Wage” only applies once you hit 23 years of age.
Impact Of UK Minimum Wage Per Hour For Indian Students
This number has a direct effect on Indian students and how much they make as part-timers or even full-timers. Let’s have a look at the below points for more clarity on this topic:
- By maintaining a decent minimum wage per hour, the UK government makes sure that Indian students make a good living and pay their bills on time. This can in return help all those who have taken a considerable loan amount to study in the UK.
UK minimum wage per hour for Indian students protects them from unfair job practices such as:
- If they are underpaid or work in horrible conditions facing bullying or racism.
- The UK government protects the rights of students so that they are not taken advantage of in the job market.
Work Eligibility For Indian Students In The UK
A student visa issued for full-time degree studies will allow you to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time. This is a maximum of 20 hours in total, including paid or unpaid work for one or more organisations.
Students are open to working and earning minimum wage only if they have a Tier 4 student visa. This is also if an Indian student is over the age of 16 and is officially in the UK.
UK Minimum Wage Per Hour For Full-Time Jobs
This section of the blog looks further into how much Indian students are offered per hour as per their job title:
| Full-time Job Title | UK Minimum Wage Per Hour For Indian Students (INR) |
| Legal | 2,133 |
| Healthcare | 2,088 |
| IT | 2,088 |
| Finance | 2,610 |
| Education | 1,253 |
| Engineering | 2,088 |
| Sales & Marketing | 1,566 |
| Admin & Office | 1,044 |
| Manufacturing | 1,253 |
| Hospitality | 835 |
UK Minimum Wage Per Hour For Part-Time Jobs
If you’re a student aged between 18-20, you will be paid slightly lower than this amount. The below table shows the figures paid for students between the ages of 21- 24, the number recognises that these students may have prior experience and financial responsibilities giving respect to their age.
| Job Title | UK Minimum Wage Per Hour (INR) |
| Barista | 731 |
| Retail Assistant | 835 |
| Receptionist | 835 |
| Tutoring | 1,566 |
| Customer Service Representative | 835 |
| Library Assistant | 1,086 |
| Data Entry Clerk | 1,566 |
| Food Delivery Driver | 1,061 |
| Dog Walker | 835 |
| Grocery Store Clerk | 750 |
Factors Not Included In Minimum Wage Per Hour In The UK
There are a few exceptions and things to keep in mind when it comes to the UK minimum wage per hour for Indian students. Understanding these would be beneficial to you in tackling with problems later on:
Tips & Service Charges
These don’t count towards your minimum wage. That minimum hourly rate is the base that you have to get paid no matter what – tips and service charges are just the extra top. For example, if you get a bunch of tips overnight, your boss still has to pay you the full minimum hourly rate separately.
Employee Housing
Another thing is that if your job provides you with housing or accommodation, they have to factor in the value of that housing as well while paying you the minimum wage properly.
Work Expenses
This means if you have costs for uniforms, tools, transportation or whatever for work, your employer can’t deduct that from your pay to get under minimum wage. Your minimum hourly rate has to be cleared of any work expense deductions.
FAQs
What is the UK minimum wage per hour for Indian students?
The UK minimum wage per hour for Indian students is £11.44 or Rs 1,140, as per the government’s new announcement which will be effective from 1 April 2024.
What’s the National Living Wage?
The United Kingdom implemented the National Living Wage on April 1, 2016, requiring employers to pay workers aged 21 and over a set minimum wage.
Does the minimum wage change based on the type of job or industry?
No, it remains the same across all job industries in the UK.
During training, can a company pay less than the minimum wage?
No, this is against UK law and the company will be penalised for the same. They should in fact keep accurate records and make them available when requested.
Do you have to pay more than the minimum rate for overtime?
There is no legal right to pay for extra working hours in the UK. However, you cannot be paid any less than your national minimum wage.
Can tips be added to the figure for the minimum wage?
Tips are the extra income that a part-timer in the UK earns.
How often does the minimum pay go up or down?
The UK government increases the rates every April of each year.
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