Wales’ National Minimum Wage offenders named and shamed by UK Government

The UK Government has published the names of four Welsh businesses who have failed to pay the legal National Minimum Wage.

Four employees are collectively owed nearly £4000 in arrears, according to an announcement made today by Business Minister Margot James.

The businesses named include an electrical contractor in North Wales and a farm-based caravan repair garage in South Wales.

They form part of a lengthy list of named and shamed offenders hailing from across the UK.

Between them, the 197 companies named owed £465,291 in arrears, across a range of employers including football clubs, hotels, care homes and hairdressers.

All of the money owed to these workers has been paid back to them.

Since the scheme was introduced in October 2013, 687 employers have been named and shamed, with total arrears of more than £3.5 million.

Mark Isherwood AM, Welsh Conservative Shadow Secretary for Social Justice, said:

“Welsh Conservatives believe in aspiration, and that hard work should be rewarded with fair pay.

“Our workforce is the most valuable asset we have, and anything which undermines their efforts is damaging to our economy.

“It is vital that people get the wages they are entitled to. We also support the National Living Wage which stands to benefit 150,000 working people in Wales by 2020.

“There are clear benefits in terms of productivity and absenteeism, which the voluntary living wage can provide.

“Welsh Conservatives have long supported action to build on the NLW to further support public sector workers.

“Every large business should aim to pay the voluntary living wage, and Welsh Conservatives would work with small businesses to explore how they could achieve this on a sustainable basis.

“Anything which can further improve the living standards of the hardworking people of Wales should be explored.

“I hope that this announcement will serve to deter other businesses from shirking their legal and moral obligations to employees.”

UK Business Minister Margot James 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.

Wales’ National Minimum Wage offenders are as follow:

–          Mobile Buddy Ltd, Swansea, owed £1,162.77 to 1 worker

–          Gwynedd Electrical Contractors Ltd, Anglesey, owed £1,625.92 to 1 worker

–          M. J. Electrical. Services. Ltd., Swansea, owed £410.00 to 1 worker

–          Automaster (South Wales) Ltd, Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan, owed £770.56 to 1 worker