What is the name of the U.K. wage floor introduced in 1999 for workers aged 22 and over?

The U.K. wage floor introduced in 1999 for workers aged 22 and over was the National Minimum Wage.

The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 created the legal framework, and the wage began operating in April 1999. The original adult rate applied to workers aged 22 and over, while younger workers were covered by lower age-related rates. The system was introduced after years of political debate about low pay and whether a statutory floor would harm employment.

The National Minimum Wage is often confused with the National Living Wage. The latter was introduced in 2016 as a higher compulsory rate initially applying to workers aged 25 and over; its age coverage has subsequently changed. Both are legal wage floors, unlike the voluntary real Living Wage promoted by the Living Wage Foundation.