The main (adult) rate of the national minimum wage rises from £5.52 to £5.73 per hour. In addition, the development rate increases from £4.60 to £4.77 and rate for workers aged 16 and 17 increases from £3.40 to £3.53 per hour.

The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Amendment) Regulations 2008 narrow the extent to which it is not discriminatory to deprive a woman of the benefit of her terms and condition of employment during maternity leave. The amendments apply where a woman's expected week of childbirth begins on or after 5 October 2008.

Although the first six months of maternity leave is to be preserved for women, the Work and Families Act 2006 allows for regulations to be made permitting fathers to benefit from additional paternity leave if the mother returns to work before the end of the maternity leave period to which she is entitled.