Wilstead company named and shamed as National Minimum Wage offender

A Wilstead based company is among a list of nearly 200 employers named and shamed for failing to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage.
File photo dated 25/03/10 of five pound notes as ATM operator Bank Machine has launched a network of free cash machines that only dispense £5 notes. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday June 28, 2010. The group has installed 21 cash machines across Britain that only give out fivers, regardless of how much money is withdrawn. See PA story MONEY ATM. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire ENGNNL00120130901143529File photo dated 25/03/10 of five pound notes as ATM operator Bank Machine has launched a network of free cash machines that only dispense £5 notes. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday June 28, 2010. The group has installed 21 cash machines across Britain that only give out fivers, regardless of how much money is withdrawn. See PA story MONEY ATM. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire ENGNNL00120130901143529
File photo dated 25/03/10 of five pound notes as ATM operator Bank Machine has launched a network of free cash machines that only dispense £5 notes. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday June 28, 2010. The group has installed 21 cash machines across Britain that only give out fivers, regardless of how much money is withdrawn. See PA story MONEY ATM. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire ENGNNL00120130901143529

Mr Ben Wilkins and Harry Williamson, trading as BHW Property Solutions, of Luton Road, Wilstead, owed £2,933.48 to one worker.

The business is among a list of 198 companies owing a total of £466,219 in arrears, across a range of employers including football clubs, hotels, care homes and hairdressers. All the money owed to these workers has been paid back to them.

Since the National Minimum wage scheme was introduced in October 2013, 688 employers have been named and shamed, with total arrears of more than £3.5 million.

This is the largest ever list of employers who failed to pay their workers the legal minimum to be publicly named, Business Minister Margot James announced today, (August 11).

She said: “This government is determined to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

“That means making sure everyone gets paid the wages they are owed – including our new, higher, National Living Wage. It is not acceptable that some employers fail to pay at least the minimum wage their workers are entitled to.

“So we’ll continue to crack down on those who ignore the law, including by naming and shaming them.”

The National Living Wage for workers aged 25 and over was introduced in April this year, which has meant a pay rise of more than £900 a year for someone previously working full time on the National Minimum Wage. For workers under the age of 25, the National Minimum Wage still applies.

It is an employer’s responsibility to be aware of the different minimum wage rates depending on the circumstances of their workers – and to make sure all eligible workers are paid at least the minimum rate they are entitled to.

The National Living Wage will be enforced equally robustly alongside the National Minimum Wage.