UK government names 658 firms for minimum wage failures

The UK government has named 658 employers for failing to pay the National Minimum Wage, following enforcement actions by the newly established Fair Work Agency. The crackdown has resulted in approximately £4 million being returned to more than 27,000 workers, while penalties totaling £7 million have been issued to the responsible businesses.

Major companies identified include DIY retailer B&Q, which underpaid 4,530 workers a total of over £456,000, and the fast-food chain Five Guys, which owed over £54,000 to 3,699 staff. Other notable entities on the list include Elysium Healthcare Holdings, several NHS hospital trusts, and Bents Garden Centre.

Many of the companies cited attributed the underpayments to technical errors. B&Q cited issues with geographical allowance calculations, while some NHS trusts pointed to compliance issues regarding salary sacrifice schemes. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasized that the government intends to publish these naming lists more regularly to ensure employers are held accountable and to prevent staff from being short-changed.