Common errors including deducting money to pay for uniforms, failure to account for overtime and wrongly paying apprentice rates were among the reasons employers failed to pay the national minimum wage (NMW).
More than 230 businesses were named in the latest round of naming and shaming. Around £2 million was owed to 13,000 workers in back pay, and the businesses involved were fined a record £1.9 million.
‘HMRC is committed to getting money back into the pockets of underpaid workers, and continues to crack down on employers who ignore the law,’ said Melissa Tatton, Director at HMRC. ‘Those not paying workers the National Minimum or Living Wage can expect to face the consequences.’
High street retailer Argos was the most high-profile business to fail to adhere to NMW laws. It was found to owe nearly £1.5 million to 12,000 workers who attended morning briefings and security searches that would happen before or after working hours.
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