A campaign has been launched to encourage minimum wage workers to complain to HMRC if they believe they are not being paid correctly.
The latest figures revealed that HMRC has more than doubled the number of underpaid workers receiving the money they’re owed under the National Minimum Wage (NMW). In 2017 to 2018, £15.6 million was identified as pay owed to more than 200,000 low-paid workers, up from £10.9 million to over 98,000 workers the year before.
HMRC has partially attributed this rise to the launch of its online complaints service that was rolled out in January 2017. The service has contributed to the 132 per cent increase in complaints received by HMRC, which in turn, has helped it to recoup money for those who had been unfairly paid.
“HMRC is committed to getting money back into the pockets of underpaid workers, and these figures demonstrate that we will not hesitate to take action against employers who ignore the law,” said Penny Ciniewicz, Director General of Customer Compliance at HMRC.
“We urge anyone who is concerned they are not being paid the correct rates to contact us in confidence through the Acas helpline or through our online complaints form.”
The figures come ahead of HMRC’s latest advertising campaign to encourage workers to take action by completing its online form. The online service is a quick and easy way for anyone with concerns about not being paid the NMW to report an employer or former employer anonymously.
