The warning comes as a survey for the Government’s Step Up for Britain campaign found that 32% of the lowest paid employees, across all industries, fail to make this simple check.
The campaign was launched in January to highlight the introduction of the NLW on 1 April, which will see more than one million workers directly benefit from the increase.
The National Minimum Wage rate of £6.70 will increase by 50p for those aged 25 and over.
From October 2016, the rates will rise again to:
• £6.95: For 21 to 24-year-olds
• £5.55: For 18 to 20-year-olds
• £4.00: For under 18s
• £3.40: For apprentices (the rate applies to all apprentices in year one of an apprenticeship, and 16 to 18-year-old apprentices in any year of an apprenticeship).
When it comes to checking payslips across the UK, those least likely to check were in the North-West and East of England (41%).
Just behind them were the West Midlands (40%) and London (37%). Those most likely to check were in the North-East, where just 11% never bothered, followed by Wales and the South-West of England (21%), Northern Ireland (24%), Scotland (25%) and Yorkshire and Humber (26%).
The survey also revealed that 80% of workers would speak to their employers if they don’t get the increase.
Stewart Gee, head of information and guidance at Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service, said: "Eligible workers should check what they are entitled to under these new changes and employers need to ensure that they are ready too.”
The survey for the Step up For Britain campaign, was carried out by TNS BMRB, with 1,263 people paid on or around the National Minimum Wage.