Employment Act 2008 clarifies position of volunteers in relation to minimum wage

Implementation date: 13 January 2009

Section 13 of the Employment Act 2008 provides that adult volunteers working with any of the armed services cadet forces do not qualify for the national minimum wage. Section 14 of the Act makes a minor amendment regarding the expenses that can be paid to voluntary workers without such volunteers becoming workers who qualify for the national minimum wage. It amends s.44 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to allow for reimbursement of expenses that are reasonably incurred in enabling the volunteer to perform his or her duties. The Act can be viewed on the OPSI website.