12 North East firms named for not paying National Minimum Wage
It includes pubs, nurseries, industrial companies, and entertainment venues.
HMRC revealed the employers who failed to comply with National Minimum wage legislation and who face financial penalties.
This list comes as nearly 60,000 workers who have been left out of pocket will be repaid over £7.4m, the Government announced at the end of last month.
This follows a significant uplift to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage – putting £1,400 into the pockets of full-time workers on NLW and supporting millions of families across the country – as well as the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation under the Employment Rights Bill.
Across the UK, 518 businesses were found to have failed to pay their workers over £7.4 million in a breach of the National Minimum Wage law, leaving almost 60,000 workers out of pocket. This includes 44 businesses in Scotland.
The businesses named have since paid back what they owe to their staff and faced financial penalties of up to 200 per cent of their underpayment.
The investigations by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) concluded between 2015-2022.
Justin Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, said: “There is no excuse for employers to undercut their workers, and we will continue to name companies who break the law and don’t pay their employees what they are owed.
“Ensuring workers have the support they need and making sure they receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work is a key commitment in our Plan for Change. This will put more money in working people’s pockets, helping to boost productivity and ending low pay.”
12 North East firms named for not paying National Minimum Wage
- Parkdean Resorts UK Limited, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE12, failed to pay £26,360.91 to 291 workers.
- Quokka Solutions Ltd, Sunderland , SR5, failed to pay £11,605.84 to 15 workers
- What A Hoot Day Nursery Limited, Blyth, NE24, failed to pay £2,712.53 to 4 workers
- D and G Pub Company Limited, Darlington, DL3, failed to pay £2,498.17 to 35 workers
- OC Electric Limited, Benton, NE12, failed to pay £1,869.32 to 1 worker
- Little Angels Fun Club and Nursery Limited, Bedlington, NE22, failed to pay £1,832.96 to 92 workers
- Mascallkelly Limited, Saltburn By The Sea, TS12, failed to pay £1,576.59 to 19 workers
- Downs Holdings Limited, Yarm, TS15, failed to pay £1,339.48 to 8 workers
- Peony Culture Communication Limited, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1, failed to pay £1,247.02 to 1 worker
- Cummins Ltd, Darlington, DL1, failed to pay £954.04 to 11 workers
- Rothco Independent Mortgages Ltd, Alnwick, NE66, failed to pay £729.83 to 1 worker
- M & C Retail Limited, Darlington, DL1, failed to pay £537.36 to 4 workers
If workers suspect they are being underpaid, they can visit gov.uk/checkyourpay to find out more about what they can do.
Workers can also call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 or visit their website for free, impartial and confidential advice or complain to HMRC at the pay and work rights helpline and complaints.
In response to its inclusion on the list, a spokesperson for Parkdean Resorts said: “Like many other companies, an HMRC National Minimum Wage review between 2018-2021 found that we had unintentionally breached HMRC statutory wage regulations, including around uniform supply.
“As soon as we were made aware, we promptly identified the small number of individuals impacted by this unintended error and took swift remedial action to reimburse those individuals.”
All the companies listed above have been contacted by The Northern Echo for a response to being included on the list.