Minimum wage   Download the A-Z Guide to the Minimum Wage Act From 1 April 2010 New Entrant*: Adult: $10.20 per hour $12.75 per hour From 1 April 2009 New Entrant*: Adult: $10.00 per hour $12.50 per hour *New entrants - A new entrant is an employee who is 16 or 17 years except if they have - Completed 3 months or 200 hours of employment, whichever is shorter or - Who are supervising or training other workers or - Who are subject to the minimum training wage Trainees - The new entrant rate applies to trainees aged 16 or over whose contract of service requires them to undertake at least 60 credits a year of an industry training programme in order to become qualified for the occupation to which the contract relates. Exceptions: The statutory minimum wage does not apply in the following circumstances:  Under-rate permits: Labour Inspectors can grant an under-rate permit to a person with a recognised disability that significantly slows their work and makes them incapable of earning the minimum wage.  Training rates: Persons doing recognised industry training, undertaking at least 60 credits per year, must be paid no less than the minimum training wage, which is equivalent to the minimum new entrant pay rate above. Contact AdviceLine for more information on the training that qualifies for this exemption.  Board and lodging deduction: If an employee is provided with board and lodging, the applicable minimum wage can be reduced by 15% for board and 5% for lodging.