People who earn the national minimum wage can expect to see their pay packets increase on 1 October when the rates are upgraded.

Under Low Pay Commission recommendations, the national minimum wage for workers aged 18-21 will increase from �3.20 to �3.50.

People in this age bracket who work a 35-hour week will get an extra �10.50 a week - or an additional �546 a year - before tax and other deductions.

Adults aged 22 and over will see their hourly rate increase from �3.70 to �4.10 an hour.

The increase for this age group is the equivalent to �14 more for a 35-hour week or an extra �728 a year before tax and other deductions.

For more information, contact the National Minimum Wage Help line on 0845 6000678 or try the Tiger website.

You may also e-mail the help line from the Inland Revenue's National Minimum Wage website.

Paid leave

Workers will not have to serve a 13-week qualifying period before they are entitled to four weeks' paid holiday under new rules.

Instead, they will have the right to paid holidays from the first day of employment, under a change to the Working Time Directive.

Workers will also have a right to compensation for any untaken leave on termination of employment.

The move follows a judgement by the European Court of Justice that the 12 week rule was inconsistent with the Working Time Directive in June.

The amended regulations will come into force on 25 October.