Employers named and shamed for underpaying workers

Some 24 North West employers have been named and shamed among a total of 180 nationally for underpaying more than 9,000 minimum wage workers by £1.1m.

Among them is Super League rugby league club St Helens which failed to pay £5,536.92 to 117 workers.

Another is Sean Hornby, the landlord of a pub between in a village between Bolton and Bury – The Queens Hotel – who is also a Bolton Councillor and leader of the UKIP group.

As well as recovering backpay for 9.200 workers, the Government also fined the employers a total of £1.3m in penalties for breaking national minimum wage laws. The most prolific offending sectors in this round were retailers, hospitality businesses and hairdressers.
It comes ahead of the next rate rise on April 1, when the National Living Wage will go up from £7.50 to £7.83 per hour. Apprentices under the age of 19 and those in the first year of their apprenticeship will benefit from a record 5.7% rise.
Later this month the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will launch a campaign to raise awareness of the new rates and encourage workers to speak to their employer if they think they are being underpaid.
Business Minister Andrew Griffiths said: “The world of work is changing and we have set out our plans to give millions of workers enhanced rights to ensure everyone is paid and treated fairly in the workplace.
“There are no excuses for short-changing workers. This is an absolute red line for this Government and employers who cross it will get caught – not only are they forced to pay back every penny but they are also fined up to 200% of wages owed.
“Today’s naming round serves as a sharp reminder to employers to get their house in order ahead of minimum wage rate rises on 1 April.”
Bryan Sanderson, chairman of the Low Pay Commission, said: “As the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates rise on April 1, it is vital that workers understand their rights, and employers their obligations.

“The Low Pay Commission is pleased to see the Government maintaining the momentum of its minimum wage enforcement.
“The recent announcement that all workers will have a right to payslips stating the hours they have worked – an idea originally proposed by the LPC – is a positive step.”

This 14th naming round comes after the Government published its Good Work plan last month, which announced the right to a payslip for all workers. The new law is likely to benefit around 300,000 UK workers who do not currently get a payslip.

The North West employers named today are:

Threshold Housing Project Limited, trading as Threshold, Tameside OL6, failed to pay £26,033.75 to 41 workers.

4Fashions Ltd, trading as Dress Decode, Manchester M8, failed to pay £25,616.56 to 24 workers.

Adactus Housing Group Limited, Wigan WN7, failed to pay £7,098.96 to 9 workers.

St Helens Rugby Football Club Limited, trading as St Helens R.F.C., St. Helens WA9, failed to pay £5,536.92 to 117 workers.

4th Generation (NW) Limited, Stockport SK6, failed to pay £2,086.41 to 1 worker.

A Johnson Construction Limited, Cheshire East CW1, failed to pay £2,033.45 to 2 workers.

I Can Day Nurseries Limited, trading as Scamps Day Nursery, Cheshire East SK11, failed to pay £1,891.75 to 2 workers.

Dr Baber Ghafoor and Dr S A Abbasi, Rochdale OL11, failed to pay £1,355.98 to 6 workers.

Parkers Mini Buses (Ellesmere Port) Limited, Cheshire West and Chester CH65, failed to pay £1,092.56 to 5 workers.

Poppies WL & S Limited, trading as Poppies, West Lancashire L39, failed to pay £1,061.70 to 69 workers.
Achieving Excellence UK Ltd, Tameside SK16, failed to pay £1,031.19 to 1 worker.

East Lancashire Services Limited, Rochdale OL10, failed to pay £539.49 to 28 workers.

Cragwood International Limited, trading as Cragwood Country House Hotel & Restaurant, South Lakeland LA23, failed to pay £467.78 to 3 workers.

Step Up Security Services Ltd, Knowsley L33, failed to pay £462.42 to 28 workers.

McClarance Services Limited, trading as Elliot McClarance, Trafford WA14, failed to pay £416.17 to 2 workers.

Darren Dickie, trading as Darren Dickie Roofing & Building Contractor, Barrow-in-Furness LA14, failed to pay £392.22 to 1 worker.

Legal Square Ltd, Manchester M12, failed to pay £370.13 to 1 worker.

Mr Shakil Shah, trading as Town Fryer, St. Helens WA10, failed to pay £347.31 to 3 workers.

Mariner Travel Limited, Warrington WA13, failed to pay £281.72 to 1 worker.

Ducati Manchester Limited, Trafford M33, failed to pay £246.88 to 1 worker.

Ms Fiona Latham, trading as The Wellington Hotel, Halton L24, failed to pay £233.55 to 1 worker.

Always Cleaning Limited, Oldham OL9, failed to pay £154.58 to 2 workers.

Mr Sean Hornby, trading as The Queens Hotel, Bury BL2, failed to pay £129.45 to 1 worker.

SM News Limited, Wigan WN7, failed to pay £120 to 1 worker.