NAMED & SHAMED: The Warwickshire businesses which failed to pay workers minimum or living wage
More than 13,000 of the UK’s lowest paid workers will get around £2 million in back pay as part of the government’s scheme to name employers who have failed to pay National Minimum Wage and Living Wage.
One business in Warwick and two in North Warwickshire have been made to pay back the money.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNationally, home furnishing and electronics business Argos has been ordered to pay £1.4million to 12,176 workers.
The list, which came out yesterday (Wednesday) has been published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Here are the three businesses in Warwickshire that made the list:
The Breakfast Junction Limited, Warwick CV35, failed to pay £2,278 to one worker.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNew Images (GB) Limited, North Warwickshire CV9, failed to pay £724.97 to four workers.
Amber U.P.V.C. Fabrications Limited, North Warwickshire B46, failed to pay £176.23 to one worker.
As well as paying back staff the money owed, employers on the list have been fined a record £1.9 million by the government. Retail, hairdressing and hospitality businesses were among the most prolific offenders.
Since 2013, the scheme has identified £6 million back pay for 40,000 workers, with 1,200 employers fined £4 million.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBusiness Minister Margot James said: “It is against the law to pay workers less than legal minimum wage rates, short-changing ordinary working people and undercutting honest employers.
“Yesterday’s naming round identifies a record £2 million of back pay for workers and sends the clear message to employers that the government will come down hard on those who break the law.
Common errors made by employers in this round included deducting money from pay packets to pay for uniforms, failure to account for overtime hours, and wrongly paying apprentice rates to workers.
Melissa Tatton, Director at HM Revenue and Customs said: “HMRC is committed to getting money back into the pockets of underpaid workers, and continues to crack down on employers who ignore the law.
“Those not paying workers the National Minimum or Living Wage can expect to face the consequences.”