More than 100 employers named over minimum wage breaches

A total of 115 employers, including high profile companies like Monsoon Accessorize, have been named and shamed for failing to pay some of their employees the National Minimum Wage.

The companies spanned several sectors including hairdressing, retail, education, catering and social care. Between them they underpaid their workers by a total of £389,000. Monsoon headed the list for building up the largest arrears. It neglected to pay more than £104,000 spread across 1,438 employees.

The current National Minimum Wage rates are:
• adult rate (21 years old and over) – £6.70 per hour
• 18 to 20-year olds – £5.30 per hour
• 16 to 17-year olds – £3.87 per hour
• apprentice rate – £3.30 per hour.

Employers who pay workers less than the minimum wage not only have to pay back arrears of wages at current minimum wage rates but also face financial penalties of up to £20,000. In the most serious cases employers can be prosecuted.

Business Minister Nick Boles said: “Employers that fail to pay the minimum wage hurt the living standards of the lowest paid and their families. We are determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage receives it.

“Next April we will introduce a new National Living Wage which will mean a £900-a-year pay rise for someone working full time on the minimum wage and we will enforce this equally robustly.”

Please contact Robert Bedford if you would like more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of employment law.