Wages Act 1986

14 Wages orders

(1) A wages council may make an order—

(a) fixing a single minimum hourly rate of remuneration in respect of all the time worked by a worker in any week;

(b) fixing—

(i) a single minimum hourly rate of remuneration in respect of time worked by a worker in any week up to a total amount not exceeding such number of hours as may be fixed by the order ("the basic hours "), and

(ii) a single minimum hourly overtime rate of remuneration in respect of time worked by a worker in any week in excess of the basic hours;

(c) fixing, for the purposes of section 17(2)(b) and (3)(b), a limit applying to amounts which are deducted from a worker's remuneration by his employer, or paid by a worker to his employer, in respect of the provision of living accommodation for him by his employer, being a limit framed by reference to the amount recovered by the employer by means of any such deductions or payments in respect of any period of 24 hours for the whole or part of which any such accommodation is so provided.

(2) Any such order may—

(a) make different provision under subsection (1) in relation to periods of time beginning with different dates;

(b) provide for any matter fixed by the order in pursuance of that subsection to have effect only as from a date later than that on which the order comes into force ;

but no such order shall provide for a limit fixed in pursuance of paragraph (c) of that subsection to have effect at a time when no rate or rates fixed in pursuance of paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection will have effect under the order.

(3) Any order made by a wages council under this section shall apply—

(a) to all time workers in relation to whom the council operates, and

(b) in accordance with the provisions of this Part relating to the remuneration of piece workers, to all piece workers in relation to whom the council operates;

and shall so apply whether any such workers work on a full-time or part-time basis.

(4) References in this Part to the statutory minimum remuneration provided for a worker by an order under this section shall, in the case of a time worker to whom such an order applies be construed as references to the remuneration due under the order in respect of any time worked by him in a week, as determined by the application, in relation to any time so worked—

(a) of the rate for the time being fixed by the order in pursuance of subsection (1)(a) or (b)(i); or

(b) where a rate is so fixed in pursuance of subsection (1)(b)(i) and the time so worked exceeds the basic hours, of a combination of that rate (as respects the basic hours) and the rate for the time being fixed by the order in pursuance of subsection (1)(b)(ii) (as respects any time worked in excess of those hours).

(5) In this Part any reference, in relation to a time worker, to time worked by that worker shall be construed as including a reference to time during which he is required (whether in accordance with his contract or otherwise) to be available for work and is so available at his place of work.

(6) Before making an order under this section fixing any such rate as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b)(i) or (ii) of subsection (1) a wages council shall have regard to—

(a) the effect that that rate will have on the level of employment among the workers to whom it will apply, and in particular in those areas where the remuneration received by such workers is generally less than the national average for such workers ; and

(b) such other matters as appear to it to be appropriate.

(7) An order under this section may amend or revoke a previous order under this section, and any such order may, in particular, amend any rate or limit fixed in pursuance of subsection (1)(b)(ii) or (c) without also amending the rate for the time being fixed in pursuance of subsection (1)(a) or (b)(i), as the case may be.

(8) An order under this section shall not prejudice any rights conferred on any worker by or under any other enactment.

(9) Schedule 3 (supplementary provisions relating to wages orders) shall have effect.