These businesses have been named and shamed for failing to pay their workers the minimum wage

Original post from Wales Online

‘………..BY CHRIS KELSEY

Some major high street names are among the businesses, which also include several from around Wales

Monsoon and Accessorize are among the firms named for not paying their staff the minimum wage

Eleven companies in Wales are among more than 100 across the UK who are named and shamed by the Government today for failing to pay workers the minimum wage.

The businesses, one of which has ceased trading, come from all over Wales and include garages, a coach business, a hairdresser and a branch of the YCMA.

Between them the 11 employers underpaid 13 workers a total of £13,567.

There are well-known national firms on the list, including Monsoon Accessorize Ltd, which owns both the high street chains.

Across the UK as a whole, 115 companies failed to pay their staff the minimum wage in sectors including retail, hairdressing, education, catering and social care.

The £389,000 they underpaid their workers by has already been paid back and the firms will have to pay penalties following investigations by HM Revenue and Customs.

Across the UK 115 companies underpaid their workers by £389,000

More than 400 employers have now been named and shamed since ministers launched the scheme two years ago, with total arrears of £1.1m and penalties of more than £500,000.

Among the firms named today the ones with the biggest bills for underpayment include Monsoon Accessorize Ltd which owed £104,000 to 1,400 workers, Tyne & Wear Riding for the Disabled Association (£27,000 to six workers), Project Security in Doncaster (£23,000 to 18 workers) and Carl Keith Salons, Prescot, Merseyside, (£20,000 to five workers).

‘National living wage will be enforced robustly’

Others named included hairdressers, a taxi firm, hotels, a nursery school and a funeral director.

Business minister Nick Boles said: “Employers who fail to pay the minimum wage hurt the living standards of the lowest paid and their families.”

He pledged that the new national living wage of £7.20 an hour for over 25-year-olds from next April will be enforced “equally robustly” as the minimum wage, currently £6.70.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said the list was just the tip of the iceberg

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It’s good to see that the Government is naming and shaming more companies who pay their employees less than the minimum wage.

“However, today’s list of offenders is only the tip of the iceberg. Many more employers are getting away with illegal underpayment.”

The Welsh companies named and shamed today are:

• Solex Systems Ltd (ceased trading), Broughton, neglected to pay £5,978.17 to 3 workers
• Elgan Davies Ltd, Cardigan, neglected to pay £2,312.62 to 1 worker
• Nichola Crosby, trading as Beyond The Fringe, Cwmbran, neglected to pay £1,687.91 to 1 worker
• Young Men’s Christian Association Bargoed and District Branch, Bargoed, neglected to pay £1,372.12 to 1 worker
• KJM Autos Ltd, Hengoed, neglected to pay £736.12 to 1 worker
• Ceredigion Couriers Ltd, Machynlleth, neglected to pay £620.55 to 1 worker
• Forward Life Ltd, Swansea, neglected to pay £286.00 to 1 worker
• D K Forecourts Ltd, trading as Texaco Garage, Caerphilly, neglected to pay £156.00 to 1 worker
• Coach Travel Wales Ltd, trading as Coach Travel Wales, Aberystwyth, neglected to pay £153.52 to 1 worker
• D K Forecourts Ltd, trading as Pavilion Garage, Pontypool, neglected to pay £151.44 to 1 worker
• Mark Gosling, trading as Regency Autos, Penarth, neglected to pay £116.76 to 1 worker

Read more:

Do jobs where you live pay the living wage? Nearly 300,000 jobs in Wales don’t

The Welsh employers flying the flag for the Living Wage

Employers who fail to pay the living wage could face £20,000 fines and a 15-year ban from directorships, Cameron warns     …………..’