New minimum wage rates are set to apply from 1 October 2014. Having now been ratified in the recent States' meeting, Guernsey employers will soon be required to pay their staff no less than the following rates:

Adult rate (18 years and over) £6.65 per hour
Young person (over 16 years but under 18 years) £5.55 per hour
Minor (under 16 years) employer discretion

For those Island employers who provide accommodation and/or food as part of an overall remuneration package, be warned, the "offset" rates are also increasing with effect from October 2014.

Accommodation only £64.00 per week
Accommodation + food £92.00 per week

Should an employer fail to apply the statutory increases, they could experience devastating financial and reputational repercussions with both civil and criminal liabilities being imposed. If you are concerned about the wage increases and how this will affect your business, then please do not hesitate to talk to a member of the Collas Crill employment team and see if we can help.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.