Firms named and shamed over wages
The government has named almost 50 employers for failing to pay their workers the national minimum wage, including childcare nurseries, restaurants and a 99p store.
The 48 employers, who owed £162,000 in arrears, were in sectors ranging from fashion and publishing, to health and fitness and retail, with penalties totalling over £67,000.
More than 200 employers have now been "named and shamed" since a new regime came into force in October 2013, with total arrears of £635,000 and penalties of almost £250,000.
Business Minister Jo Swinson said: "There's no excuse for companies that don't pay staff the wages they're entitled to - whether by wilfully breaking the law, or making irresponsible mistakes.
"The government is protecting workers by cracking down on employers who ignore minimum wage rules. In addition to naming and shaming, we've increased the penalty fines and boosted the resources available to investigate non-compliance."
The latest cases included French Connection, London, which the Business Department said neglected to pay £16,400 to 367 workers; Toni & Guy, Wilmslow, said to owe £1,031 to one worker; Call & Deliver, trading as Pizza Hut, Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, owes £163 to nine workers and 99p Stores, Northampton, £633 to 11 workers.
The cases were all investigated by HM Revenue and Customs.
A spokesman for Toni & Guy said: "As a company with over 400 salons globally under its brand umbrella, we do not condone any kind of mishandling of staff wages. Once made aware, the franchisee resolved the issue swiftly."
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "It's great to see more cheapskate bosses brought to justice for not paying the minimum wage. It's a constant battle though, and despite the growing list of those named and shamed there are many other employers still getting away with it.
"The government should invest in more inspectors so that every single minimum wage cheat is caught."
Newham Council in East London called on the government to allow local authorities to tackle businesses failing to pay the minimum wage.
A report by the council and the GMB union said over £500 million was lost to workers across the country because firms paid below the statutory minimum rate.
Almost a fifth of residents in Newham are paid below the minimum wage, at an average of over £2,200 per worker, it was estimated.
Mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales said: "This report clearly demonstrates that central government has been woefully inadequate at protecting workers from exploitative businesses who, in the majority of cases, are wilfully breaking the law.
"Local authorities have the interests of their residents at heart, and are best placed to identify rogue businesses. We're already aware of companies that flout licensing, planning, trading standards and waste rules and are able to take action. With additional powers to tackle underpayment of NMW, councils could make a substantial difference to residents' lives."
GMB leader Paul Kenny said: "Centralised enforcement is weak and currently fails to protect the lowest paid and most vulnerable. That is why Newham's proposals for local authorities to be able to investigate and in turn prosecute employers who exploit their workers must be implemented immediately."
A Pizza Hut spokesman said: "We take the welfare of our employees very seriously and are investigating the allegations that have been brought against a franchisee of Pizza Hut Delivery. As this is ongoing we're unable to comment further."
The 48 employers named today (24 March 2015) are:
G1 Venues Ltd, trading as Arta Restaurant, Glasgow, neglected to pay £45,124.00 to 2895 workers
The Clothing Works Ltd (ceased trading), Corby, neglected to pay £17,007.08 to 38 workers
Freedom Sportsline Ltd, trading as Foot Locker, London, neglected to pay £16,718.25 to 601 workers
French Connection UK Ltd, London, neglected to pay £16,436.05 to 367 workers
Minara Enterprises Ltd, trading as Fakenham Tandoori, Fakenham, neglected to pay £11,696.47 to 1 worker
Sharon Makin, trading as Clever Clowns Day Nursery, Manchester, neglected to pay £10,572.08 to 6 workers
UK Gaming Computers Ltd, Colchester, neglected to pay £6,036.99 to 2 workers
Sarah Sloane and David Sloane, trading as Hawes Side Nursery, Blackpool, neglected to pay £2,825.58 to 3 workers
Weston Hire Services Ltd, Weston-super-Mare, neglected to pay £2,819.79 to 1 worker
Miss C Glendon & Miss S Glendon, trading as Ciara's Tots Day Nursery, Manchester, neglected to pay £2,549.23 to 1 worker
Florence Opportunities Ltd, trading as Morgan Edward Hair & Beauty, Carmarthen, neglected to pay £2,201.99 to 1 worker
Champneys Springs Ltd, Swadlincote, neglected to pay £1,950 to 5 workers
H M Bodyshop Ltd, Colindale, London, neglected to pay £1944.83 to 1 worker
David Hayton Ltd, Penrith, neglected to pay £1,865.48 to 1 worker
Caledonian Leisure Sales Ltd, trading as Hurleys Operations, Birmingham, neglected to pay £1,628.63 to 1 worker
The Bell at Skenfrith Ltd, Skenfrith, neglected to pay £1,619.36 to 1 worker
Miss Kerris Dunne, Mr Frederick Dunne, and Mrs Alison Ashforth, trading as Aerobrights, Stafford, neglected to pay £1,529.82 to 6 workers
Mortgages First Ltd, Colchester, neglected to pay £1,475.63 to 3 workers
Fullworks (Ayrshire) Ltd, trading as The Full Works, Irvine, neglected to pay £1,362.76 to 2 workers
Crazy Divas Ltd, trading as Divas, Colchester, neglected to pay £1,316.74 to 4 workers
Glenview Development Partners Ltd, Tullibody, neglected to pay £1,150.42 to 1 worker
Toni & Guy (Wilmslow) Ltd, Wilmslow, neglected to pay £1,031.12 to 1 worker
Vertu Motors Plc, trading as Bristol Street Motors, Gateshead, neglected to pay £1,001.42 to 1 worker
PNP Media Ltd, trading as EBS Marketing, Manchester, neglected to pay £981.06 to 2 workers
Mr Trevor Trutwein, trading as Ambitions 2, Gillingham, neglected to pay £903.32 to 1 worker
Mr Anthony Miller, trading as Sportline Car Sales, Coalville, neglected to pay £779.70 to 2 workers
The Conde Nast Productions Ltd, London, neglected to pay £745.48 to 1 worker
Mr Yong Zhang, trading as Dragon Cottage Chinese Takeaway, Loughborough, neglected to pay £711.80 to 1 worker
99p Stores Ltd, Northampton, neglected to pay £633.39 to 11 workers
Mr M & Mrs M Hargreaves, trading as Little Windrush, Solihull, neglected to pay £631.51 to 3 workers
Azad & Sons Ltd, trading as Pizza Hut, Norwich, neglected to pay £622.58 to 23 workers
The Bull's Head (Inkberrow) Ltd, trading as The Bull's Head Inn, Worcester, neglected to pay £580.95 to 3 workers
Glyn Harding, trading as GCH Transport, Frome, neglected to pay £485.87 to 1 worker
Mrs Yoko Banks, trading as Ashley House Hotel, Harrogate, neglected to pay £405.07 to 1 worker
Mr Daniel Smith, trading as Smith's Hair, Braintree, neglected to pay £385.86 to 1 worker
Pharmacy 1st Ltd, Gillingham, neglected to pay £363.55 to 1 worker
Ms Sonia Duncton, trading as The Three Compasses Public House, Alford, neglected to pay £344.72 to 3 workers
Mrs Geraldine Kelly, trading as New Hope Creche, Enniskillen, neglected to pay £344.30 to 11 workers
Bounty (UK) Ltd, Welwyn Garden City, neglected to pay £284.26 to 1 worker
Golden Phoenix Inns Ltd, trading as The Crown Inn, Bristol, neglected to pay £284.01 to 1 worker
The Widd Group Ltd, trading as Widd Signs, Leeds, neglected to pay £253.50 to 1 worker
Mr Garry Evis, trading as Woodside MOT and Service Centre, Middlesbrough, neglected to pay £232.55 to 1 worker
Mr Keith J Pygall, trading Pygall Coaches, Peterlee, neglected to pay £198.34 to 1 worker
Ranc Care Homes Ltd, trading as Maidstone Care Centre, Ilford, neglected to pay £178.76 to 1 worker
Call & Deliver Ltd, trading as Pizza Hut, Heckmondwike, neglected to pay £163.45 to 9 workers
Mr Fernando Rocha, trading as A Tasca, Ely, neglected to pay £152.28 to 1 worker
Winners 2000 Fitness Ltd, Torquay, neglected to pay £130.78 to 1 worker
Central Electrical Ltd, Chesterfield, neglected to pay £130.28 to 1 worker
