Worker rights in the UK

Worker rights in the UK

Workers are entitled to certain employment rights, including:

  • The National Minimum Wage (£8.72 for 25 years old and over, £8.36 for 21-24 years old, £6.56 for 18-20 years old, £4.55 for 16-17 years old and £4.62 for apprentices).

  • Protection against unlawful deductions from wages.

  • The statutory minimum level of paid holiday (5.6 weeks).

  • The statutory minimum length of rest breaks (one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break per day, 11 hours rest between working days, and either an uninterrupted 24 hours without any work each week or an uninterrupted 48 hours without any work each fortnight).

  • To not work more than 48 hours on average per week or to opt out of this right if they choose.

  • Protection against unlawful discrimination.

  • Protection for ‘whistleblowing’ - reporting wrongdoing in the workplace.

  • To not be treated less favourably if they work part-time.

Workers usually are not usually entitled to

  • Minimum notice periods if their employment will be ending, for example if an employer is dismissing them

  • Protection against unfair dismissal

  • The right to request flexible working

  • Time off for emergencies

  • Statutory Redundancy Pay

Government guidance on employment status

If you are working in the UK and you do not have these rights, you may be being exploited.

It is also possible that you do not have the rights above and that you are not a survivor of modern slavery but a victim of another crime e.g. minimum wage offences. You can contact 101 (non-emergency police) or 08000 121 700 (Modern Slavery Helpline) for help identifying possible crimes committed against you.