Deductions from wages
[ch 10: pages 81-82]Only certain deductions from wages are allowed and these must be listed on the payslip. They include statutory deductions such as tax and national insurance contributions, deductions agreed to in the contract of employment and deductions the worker has given written permission for in advance, such as transport or accommodation.
A signed authorisation form for union subscriptions is a written consent, making this a lawful deduction.
Even if deductions have been agreed to, it is against the law for a deduction to take pay below the level of the National Minimum Wage, except for a limited sum for accommodation (see page 76: the NMW accommodation offset).
For information on recovering unlawful deductions, speak to your union or contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. The time limit for any claim is very short — just three months.