48 UK firms paying less than minimum wage
24/03/2015
Ministers have named and shamed 48 UK firms, including a number of high street shops, who have failed to pay their employees the minimum wage.
Government Ministers have claimed that the businesses owe their workers a total of £162,000 and face fines of up to £67,000. The companies that have been accused now have 28 days to respond to the allegations.
Some notable employers who have failed to provide the basic wage for their staff include French Connection, Foot Locker and hairdressers Toni and Guy.
Toni and 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."
French Connection said: "French Connection co-operated fully with HMRC in assessing the amounts involved and paid the arrears at the earliest possible opportunity. French Connection fully supports the UK Government's minimum wage legislation and we are apologising to our staff for the inconvenience."
Since October 2013 the government has named 210 companies who have committed wage theft. Of those firms named, they owe a total of £635,000 to workers and saw fines of up to £248,000. Employers who fail to pay the minimum wage face fines of up to £20,000, as well as criminal prosecution.
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