Changes to various statutory payments have been announced with some now in effect, while others come into operation in October 2011.

The rate of maternity, paternity and adoption pay has risen from £124.88 to £128.73 per week with effect from 3rd April 2011.

Statutory sick pay increases from £79.15 to £81.60 per week from 6th April 2011.

The government has announced increases to the minimum wage from 1^st October 2011 and they will be as follows:

21 years and over  – up 15p to  £6.08
18-20 years            – up  6p  to  £4.98
16-17 years            – up  4p  to  £3.68
Apprentices            – up10p  to  £2.60

Since April 2009 HMRC have been able to charge penalties to those employers found to be in breach of the National Minimum Wage rules. Automatic penalties are levied on employers where HMRC officers find National Minimum Wage arrears.

The penalties range from £100 to £5,000 with 50% prompt payment discounts for employers who settle within 14 days of notification. The penalty is payable in addition to arrears owed to the workers. In serious cases of non-compliance the employer may be tried in a Crown Court and in those cases the fines are unlimited.