Hair salon in Portchester and care firm in Havant among those named and shamed for not paying workers

Today, the government has released a list of 360 businesses that underpaid thousands of workers a total of almost £1m.

This is the biggest list of offenders it has so far released in its bid to shame firms that break the law.

Excuses for underpaying workers included using tips to top up pay, docking wages to pay for Christmas parties, and making staff pay for their own uniforms.

Retail giant Debenhams, which has stores in Portsmouth, Southsea and Fareham, was accused of failing to pay almost £135,000 to just under 12,000 workers.

The company said it made a technical error in its payroll calculations, which resulted in an average underpayment of around £10 per person to affected workers in 2015.

The Business Department said more than 1,500 cases are being worked on by HM Revenue and Customs, with more firms set to be named.

The new announcement means that more than 1,000 employers have been identified since the policy started in 2013.

The new list includes 84 employers in the hospitality industry, 51 in retail, 39 hairdressers and 24 in social care.

Firms in The News’ area include:

* Miss Ashton Pragnell trading as Retro Hair and Beauty, Portchester PO16, failed to pay £279.15 to one worker.

* BS Care Limited, Havant PO9, failed to pay £242.22 to two workers.

* Xingui Limited trading as Jasmine House, Chichester PO19, failed to pay £649.38 to one worker.

* PMC Repair Specialists Limited, Bognor Regis PO22, failed to pay £128.96 to one worker.

Business minister Margot James said: ‘Every worker in the UK is entitled to at least the national minimum or living wage and this government will ensure they get it.

‘That is why we have named and shamed more than 350 employers who failed to pay the legal minimum, sending the clear message to employers that minimum wage abuses will not go unpunished.’

Unions welcomed the announcement, but called for more prosecutions - there have been 13 since 2007.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: ‘This should be a wake-up call for employers who value their reputation. If you cheat your staff out of the minimum wage you will be named and shamed.

‘But we also need to see prosecutions and higher fines for the most serious offenders, especially those who deliberately flout the law.’

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: ‘This list fails to shame the larger care firms who are equally guilty of denying staff a fair wage. Those in the spotlight today are just the tip of the iceberg.

‘HM Revenue & Customs needs to get much tougher with more inspections to identify scrooge employers.’

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: ‘The government needs to crack down further on employers who failed to pay the national minimum wage to some of the most low-paid and vulnerable workers in the country.

‘The fact that the Government has mounted only 13 prosecutions for non-compliance since 2007 is pathetic.

‘In America, bad bosses are jailed and heavily fined for ‘wage theft’ which is what this is, exploiting workers in such a shameful fashion.’

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said: “It is frankly disgraceful that a record number of employers have failed to pay their workers the basic minimum wage, and hopefully the repercussions of being publicly named and shamed will act as a deterrent for other unscrupulous employers.’

The 360 employers named by the government for underpaying workers are:

1. Debenhams Retail plc, London NW1, failed to pay £134,894.83 to 11,858 workers.

2. Pembrokeshire Care Limited, Haverfordwest SA61, failed to pay £55,056.75 to 154 workers.

3. Mr Lorenzo Berni, trading as Osteria San Lorenzo, London SW3, failed to pay £53,496.57 to 29 workers.

4. Tag Hotel Limited trading as Aviator Hotel, Farnborough GU14, failed to pay £32,094.17 to 37 workers.

5. WH Recruitment Ltd, Portadown BT62, failed to pay £26,418.67 to 143 workers.

6. Drivecheck Limited, Hull HU11, failed to pay £24,363.36 to six workers.

7. Dr Lakbir Singh and Mr Devinder Singh trading as Nutwood Cottage Day Nursery, Lincoln LN6, failed to pay £22,082.16 to 11 workers.

8. Mrs Helen Dey, Mrs Karen Clark, Mr Harry Clark, Miss Jessica Clark & Miss Jennifer Dey trading as Tiny Turners Nurseries, Stockton-on-Tees TS18, failed to pay £20,740.90 to 54 workers.

9. Community Integrated Care, Widnes WA8, failed to pay £19,774.78 to 69 workers.

10. Mr Anthony Y Lloyd & Mrs Peta S Lloyd trading as Fallowfield Country House Hotel, Abingdon OX13, failed to pay £19,436.88 to six workers.

11. Feversham Arms Limited trading as Feversham Arms Hotel, York YO62, failed to pay £19,407.32 to 31 workers.

12. Gary Hedley, Mr Arthur Murray & Mrs Shirley Murray trading as Gary Hedley Hairdressing, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1, failed to pay £18,539.40 to 27 workers.

13. Crossroads Caring Scotland - Clackmannan, Alloa FK10, failed to pay £17,685.38 to 40 workers.

14. Industria Personnel Services Ltd, Leicester LE1, failed to pay £14,377.34 to 1,837 workers.

15. Tasman Limited, London W1N, failed to pay £11,799.57 to one worker.

16. Glover’s Bakery Limited, Preston PR5, failed to pay £11,320.33 to two workers.

17. Mrs Elizabeth Purkis trading as The Buttonhole, Chorley PR7, failed to pay £9,946.28 to one worker.

18. Delicatezza Limited trading as Peri Peri Original, Middlesbrough TS1, failed to pay £9,687.66 to seven workers.

19. Mr James Wilson trading as R J Cleaning, Lincoln LN6, failed to pay £8,739.38 to 16 workers.

20. Moncur Reece Ltd, Middlesbrough TS4, failed to pay £8,092.26 to one worker.

21. Mrs Eileen Beresford trading as E M Beresford Livery, Sandbach CW11, failed to pay £7,978.99 to one worker.

22. Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Kirklees HD3, failed to pay £7,500.95 to one worker.

23. The Kangaroo Club Limited, Ilkley LS29, failed to pay £7,396.45 to two workers.

24. Mr Sean Bennett trading as Bennetts Seafood Bar & Grill, Warrenpoint BT34, failed to pay £7,300.15 to 25 workers.

25. Boran-Mopack Limited, Strabane BT82, failed to pay £6,779.05 to one worker.

26. Northcote Hotel Limited, Blackburn BB6, failed to pay £6,621.82 to 22 workers.

27. Wollaton Village Day Nurseries Limited, Nottingham NG8, failed to pay £6,609.91 to one worker.

28. Places for Children Limited trading as The Meadows Nursery Schools, Eastbourne BN22, failed to pay £6,339.65 to four workers.

29. Lotus Care Home Limited, Stanmore HA7, failed to pay £6,167.37 to one worker.

30. Peak Active Sport Limited, Glossop SK13, failed to pay £6,064.18 to five workers.

31. Willow Park Childrens Nurseries Limited trading as Willow Park Montessori Nursery, London SE9, failed to pay £6,027.40 to one worker.

32. Thermal Heating Maintenance Limited, Bolton BL6, failed to pay £5,963.85 to two workers.

33. Heron Foods Limited, North Ferriby HU14, failed to pay £5,899.50 to 15 workers.

34. WiCastr Limited, London EC1R, failed to pay £5,877.23 to one worker.

35. ABC Children’s Day Nursery Limited, Huddersfield HD4, failed to pay £5,834.08 to five workers.

36. Mrs Margaret Danks trading as Shine Hair Company, Belfast BT8, failed to pay £5,811.95 to one worker.

37. Tailored Care Limited, Telford TF7, failed to pay £5,788.72 to 95 workers.

38. The Swan Hotel (Newby Bridge) Limited, Ulverston LA12, failed to pay £5,674.29 to 14 workers.

39. Mr Peter Kilmartin trading as PK Motor Services, Aylesbury HP21, failed to pay £5,476.33 to one worker.

40. Mr Kevin Falconer & Mrs Victoria Falconer trading as CD Scooters, Brighton BN2, failed to pay £5,434.70 to one worker.

41. Mr Arthur Race & Mr Chris Race trading as Race Joinery, Auckland Park DL14, failed to pay £5,303.36 to one worker.

42. Euro Catering Parts Ltd, Oldham OL8, failed to pay £5,005.63 to one worker.

43. Q Hotels Services Limited, Leeds LS27, failed to pay £4,579.76 to one worker.

44. Mr Mark Buckler trading as MB Auto Electrics, Southport PR8, failed to pay £4,549.07 to one worker.

45. Rail Vision (Europe) Ltd, Castle Donington DE74, failed to pay £4,470.69 to two workers.

46. Mr Lawrence Peter Meer trading as Central Auto Repair Services, Worthing BN14, failed to pay £4,449.11 to one worker.

47. Mark Scott Salons Limited, Derby DE1, failed to pay £4,387.16 to two workers.

48. Fusion Heating Limited, Belfast BT23, failed to pay £4,353.69 to two workers.

49. Mr Michael Whitbread trading as Divers Down, Torquay TQ1, failed to pay £4,287.67 to one worker.

50. Mr Graham Steel trading as Snack Attack, Clacton-on-Sea CO15, failed to pay £4,221.78 to one worker.

51. Sara Motors Limited, Brierley Hill DY5, failed to pay £4,221.00 to one worker.

52. E Hanna Limited trading as Brandywell Day Nursery, Crowborough TN6, failed to pay £4,002.50 to one worker.

53. Mr Russell Evans & Mrs Lynne Evans trading as Glanmor’s Bakery, Caerphilly CF83, failed to pay £3,959.70 to one worker.

54. Paradise School Trust trading as Paradise Primary School, Dewsbury WF12, failed to pay £3,856.18 to four workers.

55. Mrs Leanne Thomas-Pughsley trading as UC Better Window Cleaning, Kidwelly SA17, failed to pay £3,750.60 to one worker.

56. Eggco Ltd, West Bromwich B70, failed to pay £3,749.26 to two workers.

57. West Street Enterprises Ltd trading as Subway, Sheffield S1 4EU, failed to pay £3,728.55 to 18 workers.

58. Whittaker Golf Club, Littleborough OL15, failed to pay £3,676.01 to two workers.

59. Mrs Melanie Ferri trading as Rapport Hair & Beauty, Middlesbrough TS3, failed to pay £3,642.18 to one worker.

60. Stephen’s Family Butchers Ltd, St Ives PE27, failed to pay £3,542.90 to three workers.

61. Little Legs Limited, Brentwood CM13, failed to pay £3,432.95 to one worker.

62. Solo Hair Team Otley Ltd, Otley LS21, failed to pay £3,358.16 to one worker.

63. London Letting & Management Ltd trading as Marlin Apartments, London SE1, failed to pay £3,352.60 to one worker.

64. Don’t Panic (Ldn) Limited, London E1, failed to pay £3,310.61 to one worker.

65. Poole Plumbing Ltd, Poole BH16, failed to pay £3,276.00 to one worker.

66. Adamsons Law Limited, Bolton BL1, failed to pay £3,161.67 to one worker.

67. Istanbul Kebab House Limited, Leicester LE3, failed to pay £2,841.66 to two workers.

68. Health & Fitness Travel Ltd, London SW18, failed to pay £2,732.09 to one worker.

69. Beaumont Healthcare Limited, St Neots PE19, failed to pay £2,640.06 to two workers.

70. Fleet Dynamic Consultancy Limited, St Helens WA9, failed to pay £2,574.49 to one worker.

71. Laura Anderson Limited trading as Virgo Home Improvements, Bradford BD4, failed to pay £2,558.25 to three workers.

72. Daniel Jordan London Limited, Sevenoaks TN13, failed to pay £2,471.58 to one worker.

73. Lakenheath Fab Limited, Lakenheath IP22, failed to pay £2,297.71 to one worker.

74. Nexen Lift Trucks Limited, Lowestoft NR33, failed to pay £2,261.84 to two workers.

75. Peacock Stores Limited, Langholm DG13, failed to pay £2,256.58 to 42 workers.

76. Simpson Hilder Associates Limited, Lyndhurst SO43, failed to pay £2,208.50 to one worker.

77. Screensaver (UK) Limited, Gainsborough DN21, failed to pay £2,200.80 to one worker.

78. Mrs Aneta Elizbieta Luzarova trading as Majka Polish Shop, Llanybydder SA40, failed to pay £2,193.10 to one worker.

79. Winford Manor Hotel Limited, Bristol BS40, failed to pay £2,182.90 to three workers.

80. Aquaa Partners Limited, London W1J, failed to pay £2,142.38 to two workers.

81. Static Solutions Limited, Barnsley S72, failed to pay £2,136.94 to four workers.

82. Mrs Ravinder Rai trading as Langley Park Village Store, Durham DH7, failed to pay £2,123.13 to one worker.

83. Wilkes Cleaning Services Limited, Wakefield WF5, failed to pay £2,118.73 to 17 workers.

84. Barlborough Parish Council Management Committee, Chesterfield S43, failed to pay £2,038.36 to one worker.

85. T. Long & Co. Limited trading as White Hall Farm, Wymondham NR18, failed to pay £2,016.70 to one worker.

86. Pure Enfield Limited, Enfield EN4, failed to pay £1,909.20 to one worker.

87. Sunbeams Limited trading as Sunbeams Day Nursery, Leeds LS15, failed to pay £1,891.19 to three workers.

88. Fresh Salon Crewe Ltd, Crewe CW2, failed to pay £1,890.32 to one worker.

89. Jonathan Richard Edward Briscoe trading as Brampton Hall Farm, Norwich NR10, failed to pay £1,790.98 to one worker.

90. The Stanneylands Hotel (Previous Owners), Wilmslow SK9, failed to pay £1,790.61 to two workers.

91. Rumour Expresso Bar Ltd, Armagh BT61, failed to pay £1,779.85 to five workers.

92. Ballarino Limited trading as Salvo & Alex, Reading RG1, failed to pay £1,761.70 to two workers.

93. Age Concern Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1, failed to pay £1,737.32 to one worker.

94. Mr Miles Tarpey, Mr David Slade and Mr Jason Hallowes trading as Slades Estate Agents, Christchurch BH23, failed to pay £1,717.59 to one worker.