National Minimum Wage Act 1998

55Interpretation

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

• “civil proceedings” means proceedings before an employment tribunal or civil proceedings before any other court;

• “enforcement notice” shall be construed in accordance with section 19 above;

• “government department” includes a Northern Ireland department, except in section 52(a) above;

• “industrial tribunal” means a tribunal established under Article 3 of the [S.I. 1996/1921 (N.I.18).] Industrial Tribunals (Northern Ireland) Order 1996;

• “notice” means notice in writing;

• “pay reference period” shall be construed in accordance with section 1(4) above;

• “penalty notice” shall be construed in accordance with section 21 above;

• “person who qualifies for the national minimum wage” shall be construed in accordance with section 1(2) above; and related expressions shall be construed accordingly;

• “prescribe” means prescribe by regulations;

• “regulations” means regulations made by the Secretary of State, except in the case of regulations under section 47(2) or (4) above made by the Secretary of State and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food acting jointly or by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

(2)Any reference in this Act to a person being remunerated for a pay reference period is a reference to the person being remunerated by his employer in respect of his work in that pay reference period.

(3)Any reference in this Act to doing work includes a reference to performing services; and “work” and other related expressions shall be construed accordingly.

(4)For the purposes of this Act, a person ceases to be of compulsory school age in Scotland when he ceases to be of school age in accordance with sections 31 and 33 of the [1980 c. 44.] Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

(5)Any reference in this Act to a person ceasing to be of compulsory school age shall, in relation to Northern Ireland, be construed in accordance with Article 46 of the [S.I. 1986/755 (N.I.2).] Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

(6)Any reference in this Act to an employment tribunal shall, in relation to Northern Ireland, be construed as a reference to an industrial tribunal.