Firms punished for paying under minimum wage

Some 260 employers across the UK have been named and shamed by the Government for failing to pay 16,000 workers at least minimum wage rates.

A record £1.7m in back pay has been identified, more than in any previous naming round.

The employers have been fined a total of £1.3m for their underpayment.

Retail, hairdressing and hospitality businesses were among the most prolific offenders. Common reasons for errors made include: failing to pay workers travelling between jobs, deducting money from pay for uniforms and not paying for overtime.

Business Minister Margot James said: “There is no excuse for not paying staff the wages they’re entitled to and the government will come down hard on businesses that break the rules.

“That’s why today we are naming hundreds of employers who have been short changing their workers; and to ensure there are consequences for their wallets as well as their reputation, we’ve levied millions in back pay and fines.”

Bryan Sanderson, chairman of the Low Pay Commission, said: “The Low Pay Commission’s conversations with employers suggest that the risk of being named is encouraging businesses to focus on compliance.”

Some 37 North West businesses named are:

The Message Enterprise Centre trading as Shine Hair & Beauty, Manchester, failed to pay £9,936.05 to seven workers.

Regal Amusement Machines Sales Limited trading as Regal Gaming and Leisure, South Ribble, Lancashire, failed to pay £8,081.93 to 74 workers.

Low Wood Hotel (1958) Limited trading as Low Wood Bay, South Lakeland, failed to pay £7,341.25 to 34 workers.

Mr Martin Brindley Station Cars, Wrexham, failed to pay £5,303.74 to one worker.

Brownbridge Limited, Bury, failed to pay £5,174.82 to five workers.

Mr Jeffrey Spencer Dennis trading as Spencer Dennis Joinery, Wirral, failed to pay £4,653.32 to one worker.

Keystone Properties (UK) Limited, Rochdale, failed to pay £4,395.86 to four workers.

Higginshaw Abattoir Limited, Oldham, failed to pay £2,879.12 to one worker.

A Consultancy Services Limited trading as The Fallowfield Lodge, Manchester, failed to pay £2,995.41 to seven workers.

UK Legion Marketing Ltd., Wirral, failed to pay £3,227.56 to one worker.

Barbara Daley Hair & Beauty Limited, Liverpool, failed to pay £2,200.18 to 4 workers.

Advanced Building (NW) Ltd., Salford, failed to pay £2,027.04 to one worker.
Gisburne Park Estates Limited trading as Ribblesdale Park, Ribble Valley, failed to pay £1,792.17 to one worker.

Heyrod Construction Limited, Oldham, failed to pay £1,588.6 to one worker.
Mrs Jennifer Preece trading as Family Barbers, Cheshire East, failed to pay £1,495.52 to three workers.

Nightingales UK Limited, Warrington, failed to pay £1,453.22 to 4 workers.

Rochdale Plastics Ltd, Rochdale, failed to pay £1,411.93 to one worker.

N K Hair Studio Limited, Oldham, failed to pay £1,411.12 to two workers.

Provectus Medical Limited, Pendle, failed to pay £1,224.51 to one worker.

Whelan Hotel Co Limited trading as The Wrightington Hotel and Country Club, West Lancashire, failed to pay £1,142.32 to 19 workers.

5th Generation Limited, Oldham, failed to pay £1,125.34 to one worker.

S M W Construction Limited, Preston, failed to pay £1,090.71 to three workers.

Sandersons (UK) Limited trading as Sandersons Bakery, Blackburn with Darwen BB1, failed to pay £910.6 to one worker.

Swissport Ltd, Halton, failed to pay £841.34 to five workers.

Mr Mark Ghani trading as Sync Plumbing & Heating Solutions, Wigan, failed to pay £782.16 to one worker.

The Gentry Grooming Co (Merchandising) Limited, Salford, failed to pay £765.33 to one worker.

Tims Lamama Ltd trading as La Mama Café Restaurant, Wigan WN6, failed to pay £458.31 to 1 worker.

Consumable Direct Limited, Trafford, Greater Manchester, failed to pay £429.31 to one worker.

Took Us A Long Time Limited, Cheshire West and Chester, failed to pay £427.39 to two workers.

Mr Phillip Johnson, Mrs Jeanette Johnson and Mr Roddy Patterson, the Railway Inn, Salford, failed to pay £419.78 to one worker.

Gonzales (SR) Limited, Bolton, failed to pay £382.05 to one worker.

Arthur Chatwin Limited, Cheshire, failed to pay £331.94 to eight workers.

Mrs Kalpana Zore, Amit Stores Off Licence, Burnley, failed to pay £310.94 to one worker.

Greenwood Fryery Limited, Warrington, failed to pay £276.81 to one worker.

R&J (Builders Hardware) Limited, Blackburn, failed to pay £274.68 to one worker.

Jo and Cass Limited, Lancaster, failed to pay £252 to five workers.

Mrs Johanna Patricia Walsh, Stage-Door Stockport, failed to pay £221.25 to three workers.

Partners Hairdressing Limited, Stockport, failed to pay £213.05 to one worker.

The Hair & Beauty Company (Wigan) Ltd, failed to pay £140.48 to two workers.

Akbar Balti (Manchester) Limited, failed to pay £123.9 to one worker.