Minimum Wage Complaint — Gig Worker Letter Template & Generator
How to challenge pay that falls below minimum wage when all hours are considered — what needs to go in it, your legal position, and a free tool to build it.
← All Letter Templates & Generators · Gig Economy · Last updated 18 August 2026 · Written and reviewed by Matt Thompson, founder of UK Work Rights
This is free rights guidance, not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, see our About page or contact Citizens Advice.
If you need to challenge pay that falls below minimum wage when all hours are considered, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong minimum wage complaint — gig worker should include, plus a free tool to generate yours.
What this letter needs to cover
- Assert worker status
- Calculate average hourly rate including waiting and preparation time
- Identify the shortfall against the National Living Wage
- Claim repayment of arrears
- Reference the National Minimum Wage Act 1998
Why "per task" pay can fall below minimum wage
If you're paid per delivery, per job, or per task rather than by the hour, it's genuinely possible to earn below National Minimum Wage once all your actual working time is properly accounted for — including waiting time between jobs, if you're required to be available and can't use that time freely for other purposes.
What to include before you send it
- A calculation of your total hours worked (including qualifying waiting time) against total pay received
- The relevant minimum wage rate for your age band
- The shortfall you've calculated between what you were paid and what minimum wage requires
- A request for back payment of the difference
What counts as working time for this calculation
This is genuinely complex and has been the subject of significant legal disputes — broadly, if you're required to be logged in, available, and unable to freely do other things during waiting periods, that time may count as working time for minimum wage purposes, not just the time actively completing a task.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be classified as a "worker" for minimum wage rights to apply?
Yes — minimum wage entitlement applies to workers and employees, not to genuinely self-employed contractors, so establishing your status is often the key first step.
How do I prove how many hours I actually worked?
Platform app data, login and logout times, and your own records of shifts or availability periods can all help build an accurate picture of your actual working time.
Ready to write yours?
Answer a few questions and get a professionally drafted letter, ready to send — free, no account needed.
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