The government
has released a list of 25 employers who failed to pay workers the National
Minimum Wage (NMW).
The employers, including a school, a construction
firm and a retail outlet, were investigated after employees called a free
helpline to report being underpaid.
Between them the offending employers have
been ordered to pay fines totalling more than £21,000 after an HMRC
investigation found that more than £43,000 was owed to staff.
“Named
and shamed” under new rules
The employers are the latest offenders to
be "named and shamed" under rules that came into effect last October.
Those who underpay currently face penalties
of up to £20,000.
The Queen's Speech also outlined plans
whereby employers will face a £20,000 fine per employee who is underpaid.
The employers named by the government,
twelve of which underpaid staff by four-figure sums, are:
A Premier League
football club, which HMRC did not name, made staff pay for their uniforms and also
made deductions for travelling time and has to pay arrears of more than £27,500
to 3,000 workers.
An agency, again unnamed by HMRC, was also
ordered to pay more than £167,000 after classing some workers as unpaid interns
when they should have been receiving Minimum Wage.
A Department for Business spokeswoman said
they had been investigated under previous rules and not as part of the new
enforcement regiment.
“Shocking”
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said:
"It is shocking that some employers - including those who pay certain star
staff millions of pounds a year - are cheating low-paid workers out of the
minimum wage.”
Business Minister Jenny Wilcott said:
"Paying less than the minimum wage is not only wrong, it's illegal.
"If employers break the law they need
to know that they will face tough consequences. Any worker who is entitled to
the minimum wage should receive it."
The National Minimum Wage is currently
£6.31 an hour for adults and will rise to £6.50 from October.
With penalties set to increase, employers
should check carefully whether they are compliant.
Questions
about Minimum Wage?
Contact Foremans on 01244 625 500 for further advice.