The national minimum wage celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The national minimum wage* celebrated its 10th birthday yesterday, with pledges that penalties will be enforced on those employers not adhering to the law.

The minimum wage was introduced in 1999 in order to ensure workers are treated fairly – no matter what state the economic climate is in, and it has already ensured millions of workers have been fairly rewarded for their work.

From 6 April, new automatic penalties will be introduced for those employers who are not adhering to the minimum wage rules.

To be eligible to receive the minimum wage, employees must be working legally, not genuinely self-employed and have a written, oral or implied contract.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “We are determined to protect the rights that everyone in the UK is entitled to – this is a basic matter of fairness and helps ensure a level playing field for business.”

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber commented: “It [the minimum wage] has been an integral part of making the UK a fairer society and is an important part of protecting some of Britain’s most vulnerable citizens. We must continue to work together to develop the minimum wage, which has a vital part to play in shaping the economy of the future.”

The milestone also saw a revision of annual leave rules. Statutory entitlement has been increased from 24 to 28 days.

* The minimum wage currently stands at £5.73 for those aged 22 and over, £4.77 for those aged 18-21 and £3.53 for 16 and 17-year-olds.