Major UK Firms Named for Underpaying Workers, Over £7.3m Recovered
A significant Labour Party Government initiative has publicly named and shamed numerous businesses across the United Kingdom for failing to pay their employees the legal minimum wage. This crackdown has resulted in over £7.3 million being returned to thousands of affected workers nationwide.
High-Profile Companies on the List
Among the most notable companies identified in the report are retail giant B&M, coffee chain Costa, along with Hovis and Hays Travel. It is important to note that the underpayments typically relate to specific roles, particular locations, or isolated payroll errors, rather than affecting all staff members within these organisations.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle stated: "The vast majority of businesses in this country do the right thing by paying their staff properly and playing by the rules. It's not fair on them when others are able to get ahead by not paying the wages their workers are owed." He emphasised that a good employer does not build their business on unpaid wages and highlighted plans to work with the new Fair Work Agency to enforce compliance.
Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden added: "Nobody should finish a week's work and find they've been paid less than they've earned. I believe in a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. That's why we're cracking down on employers who underpay. We're making sure workers get the hard-earned pay they deserve." She encouraged all employers to review their payroll systems to avoid similar breaches.
Full List of Businesses in Breach
The government has published an extensive list of employers found to have underpaid workers. The list includes the business name, location, total amount underpaid, and the number of workers affected. Some of the largest recoveries include:
- ISS Mediclean Limited / Weybridge, KT13 / £1,506,959.68 / 6,580 workers affected
- ISS Facility Services Limited / Weybridge, KT13 / £754,760.14 / 5,378 workers affected
- Browns Manufacturing Limited / Sanquhar, DG4 / £708,731.99 / 1,654 workers affected
- Busy Bees Nurseries Limited / Burntwood, WS7 / £485,374.05 / 9,056 workers affected
- Bupa Care Services Limited / City of London, EC2R / £441,439.54 / 8,810 workers affected
- Hays Travel Limited / Sunderland, SR1 / £364,103.51 / 2,463 workers affected
- Amey Services Limited / Oxford, OX4 / £169,447.02 / 2,608 workers affected
- Costa Limited / High Wycombe, HP10 / £149,851.25 / 2,759 workers affected
- Hovis Limited / High Wycombe, HP12 / £84,676.19 / 119 workers affected
- B & M Retail Limited / Liverpool, L24 / £3,304.80 / one worker affected
The list encompasses a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, and childcare, demonstrating the broad scope of the enforcement action. The government's initiative underscores its commitment to ensuring all workers receive the wages they are legally entitled to, with ministers vowing continued vigilance against wage non-compliance.
