Your rights at work
The law gives workers lots of rights at work. We can't go into all the detail here, but there are some basic rights that nearly all workers get from their very first day in a new job. Make sure you know what they are and don't get cheated out of them.
National Minimum Wage
There is a UK law which sets the minimum amount you can be paid. Rada was getting paid well below this limit. Employers who act illegally in this way can be made to pay you the National Minimum Wage and give you back-pay.
How much is the National Minimum Wage?
16-17 year olds: £3.53 per hour.
(But this might not apply to 16-17 year olds who are learning a craft or a skill on the job).
18-21 year olds: £4. 77 per hour.
22 or older: £5. 73 per hour.
(If you are receiving accredited training and have been in the post for less than 6 months, you can be paid less, but it must be at least £4.77 per hour. Accredited training means it is a government-approved vocational course, like an NVQ. You can find out from your training provider whether your course is accredited).
These rates will go up in October 2009. You can check the rate on the Directgov - see 'Links to other websites'.
If you have any queries about the minimum wage, or think that your employer is paying you below it you can contact the National Minimum Wage Helpline on 0845 600 0678.
Long hours
You should not have to work for more than 48 hours a week on average. There are other rules too about when you get breaks and holidays. There is a lot more information about this on Citizen Advice's Adviceguide website - see link on right of page.
Discrimination
If you are discriminated against in the work place because of where you come from, you don't have to tolerate it. There are laws to protect you. See our guides to discrimination - Is that fair? and to Dealing with discrimination at work.
Joining a union
A trade union is an organisation of workers who negotiate with employers about things like wages and working conditions. The union can represent you if you are missing out on your rights at work, for example, if you think you are being discriminated against. You have the right to join a union and you don't have to tell your boss if you do. For more information see the link to the TUC's leaflet 'Working in the UK - Your rights'.
Remember, your employer should never need to keep documents like your passport. Some crooked employers may try to keep your passport to stop you getting another job.
Health and safety
Your boss has to look after your health and safety at work. This includes giving you training and the right equipment for you to carry out your job safely. The Health and Safety Executive produces more information on this. See the link on the right hand side of the page.
For more information on how to deal with problems see How to tackle problems at work or get advice from one of the agencies in 'Useful organisations'.
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