26 Feb 2024
The government recently named and shamed more than 500 UK employers for underpaying their employees.
524 businesses were named for failing to pay the minimum wage, with offending employers ordered to pay nearly £16 million plus an additional financial penalty to 172,000 workers.
The National Living Wage (NLW) is set to rise to £11.44 an hour from 1 April 2024.
Offending employers include major high street brands, the government said. It stated that anyone entitled to be paid the minimum wage should receive it, and that enforcement action will be taken against employers who do not pay their staff correctly.
Patricia Rice, Independent Commissioner at the Low Pay Commission (LPC), commented: 'Since its introduction nearly twenty-five years ago, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) has played a vital role in protecting the earnings of the lowest-paid workers in the UK. At a time when the cost of living is rising, it is more important than ever that these workers receive the pay to which they are entitled.
'NMW underpayment not only cheats workers of their rightful due, it leaves compliant firms undercut by those who do not abide by the law. By naming the firms responsible for significant underpayment, we raise awareness of the nature and the scale of underpayment and encourage all employers to ensure that they fully comply with the law.'