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Employers named and shamed for failing to pay National Minimum Wage

09 - 06 - 2014

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:

 

  • Christine Cadden and Nicola Banks of Renaissance, Wirral, who failed to pay £7,310.65 to three workers.
  • Alan King and John King of Arthur Simpson & Co, Bradford, who failed to pay £6,426.12 to a worker.
  • Central Heating Services Ltd, Hampshire, which failed to pay £6,200.28 to four workers.
  • Cargilfield School Ltd, Edinburgh, which failed to pay £3,739.58 to a worker.
  • A2ZEE Constriction Ltd, Cramlington, which failed to pay £3,375.51 to 14 workers.
  • Mr and Mrs Balasco of Eugenio, Bristol, who failed to pay £3,037.53 to two workers.
  • Mr and Mrs Hampton of The Wheatsheaf Inn in Crewe, Cheshire, who failed to pay £2,057.88 to five workers.
  • Steven Stainton of Steven Stainton Joinery, Cumbria, who failed to pay £1,415.82 to a worker.
  • Runbaro Ltd, Swindon, which failed to pay £1,413.88 to a worker.
  • Satwinder Singh Khatter and Tejinder Singh Khatter of The Bath Hotel, Reading, who failed to pay £1,237.79 to two workers.
  • Richard Last of Classic Carpentry, Godalming, who failed to pay £1,236.72 to a worker.
  • We are Mop! Ltd, London, which failed to pay £1,018.05 to two workers.
  • Sue English of Legends Hairdressers, Colchester, who failed to pay £823.40 to a worker.
  • Saftdwin Ltd, Hampshire, which failed to pay £806.37 to two workers.
  • Master Distribution Ltd, Essex, which failed to pay £718.62 to a worker.
  • Perth Hotels Ltd, Perth, which failed to pay £556.80 to a worker.
  • Bryants Nurseries Ltd, Hertfordshire, which failed to pay £494.07 to a worker.
  • Dove Mill Retail Outlet Ltd, Bolton, which failed to pay £461.84 to a worker.
  • Luigi's Little Italy Ltd, Yorkshire, which failed to pay £281.04 to five workers.
  • CPS SW Ltd, Exmouth, which failed to pay £261.29 to a worker.
  • Gary Calder, Richard Calder and Neil Calder of Avenue Agricultural, Northamptonshire, who failed to pay £256.55 to a worker.
  • Dakal Ltd, Northampton, which failed to pay £252.00 to two workers.
  • Zoom Ltd, Havant, which failed to pay £242.28 to three workers.
  • HSS Hire Service Group Ltd, Manchester, which failed to pay £149.00 to 15 workers.
  • Sun Shack Ltd, Hamilton, which failed to pay £134.35 to eight workers.

 

 

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.

 
 


 

 

 

 

 

Foremans LLP Umberlla
Foremans LLP