Which UK body recommends National Minimum Wage rates to the government?

The Low Pay Commission recommends National Minimum Wage rates to the UK government.

The commission was created in 1997 alongside the policy that introduced the National Minimum Wage. It is an independent body made up of representatives from employers, workers, and academic backgrounds. Its recommendations are based on evidence about wages, employment, business conditions, and the wider economy.

The UK government sets the legal rates after considering the commission’s recommendations; the commission does not itself pass the final wage regulations. This distinction is a common source of confusion. The National Minimum Wage is the statutory wage floor, while the National Living Wage is the higher minimum rate for eligible older workers.

The Low Pay Commission’s remit and membership have changed over time, but its central role remains advising ministers on minimum-wage rates and related policy. It also researches how minimum-wage changes affect low-paid workers and employers.