A recent report by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has identified several UK employers who failed to pay their staff the national minimum wage. Among these employers are three Norfolk-based companies. Elite Recruitment Agency, formerly headquartered in Norwich, was found to have underpaid one employee by a total of £10,554 from July 2015 to October 2018. The company, which was dissolved in 2019, has since paid the owed amount and was fined £10,000 by HMRC. The former directors of the firm have been approached for comment.
Another company on the list is Bendart Limited, trading as Blackwell Print in Great Yarmouth, which underpaid two workers by a total of £1,585 between May and November 2018. The firm was acquired by new owners earlier this year, who have also been approached for comment. Similarly, North Norfolk Hospitality Limited, trading as The Cliftonville Hotel in Cromer, was found to have underpaid three workers a total of £908. The missing wages have since been paid to the employees, and the company that owned the hotel when the underpayment occurred has been dissolved. The new owners, City Pub Group, stated that they were unaware of the details of the underpayment incidents.
The report reveals that among the 202 businesses included, 39% of employers deducted pay from workers’ wages, another 39% failed to pay workers correctly for their working time, and 21% paid incorrect apprenticeship rates. The national minimum wage is currently £10.42 per hour. The identification and publication of this list aim to shed light on the issue of underpayment and enforce compliance with national minimum wage laws. Employers who breach these laws can face fines and penalties from HMRC. It is crucial for all businesses to ensure that they comply with wage regulations to protect the rights and well-being of their workers.
