Hundreds of workers have been left out of pocket
The Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare is among them(Image: Getty Images)
More than 20 South West companies have been named and shamed on a Government list for failing to pay workers the minimum wage.
The employers, which include coffee shops, nurseries and leisure attractions, were among almost 400 nationally that have been issued fines.
Government figures show around 60,000 people were paid less than the legal threshold – with £12.6million in penalties dished out to hundreds of firms. On top of that, the companies have been forced to put the underpayments right – amounting to some £7.3m in total.
Nationally, big brands including Costa, Bupa Care Services and Hays Travel were among those to be called out on the Department for Business and Trade list.
ISS Mediclean Ltd was the worst offender, failing to pay over £1.5million to 6,580 workers. And ISS Facility Services Ltd failed to pay over £750,000 to over 5,300 employees.
The firm said unintended errors had emerged following a review of historic payments.
Those aged 18 to 20 are entitled to £10 an hour, which is set to go up to £10.85, and the minimum for under-18s and apprentices is £7.55, rising to £8.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “The vast majority of businesses in this country do the right thing by paying their staff properly and playing by the rules. It’s not fair on them when others are able to get ahead by not paying the wages their workers are owed.”
The South West companies on the list failed to pay a total of £65,300 between them, affecting hundreds of staff:
Mallett & Son, Limited, Truro, TR1, failed to pay £7,804.15 to 24 workers.EV Downton Limited, Gloucester, GL2, failed to pay £6,445.72 to 1 worker.The Crusty Cob (creations) Ltd, Exeter, EX5, failed to pay £5,292.32 to 79 workers. The renowned bakery chain, which had nine shops across Devon and Somerset, shut down last year after 55 years.Britanic Industries Limited, Truro, TR1, failed to pay £4,765.44 to 7 workers.Oasis Healthcare Limited, Hambrook, Bristol, BS16, failed to pay £4,342.75 to 145 workers.Frontline Total Security Ltd, St Austell, PL25, failed to pay £4,057.33 to 118 workers.The Old Station Nursery Limited, Faringdon, SN7, failed to pay £3,902.30 to 18 workers.LED Community Leisure Limited, Exeter, EX5, failed to pay £3,533.81 to 67 workers.Grand Pier Limited, Weston Super Mare, BS23, failed to pay £3,307.08 to 94 workers.Elite Marine Services Ltd, Plymouth, PL9, failed to pay £3,115.18 to 1 worker.Les Mirabelles Limited, Salisbury, SP5, failed to pay £2,889.91 to 4 workers.Lowen Harts Day Nursery Limited, Redruth, TR15, failed to pay £2,352.53 to 2 workers.Olveston Pre-School CIC, Bristol, BS32, failed to pay £1,908.66 to 3 workers.Conker Coffee Ltd, Bath, BA1, failed to pay £1,576.90 to 21 workers.BF Adventure, Penryn, TR10, failed to pay £1,547.02 to 2 workers.Appoint Personnel Limited, Wells, BA5, failed to pay £1,485.04 to 1 worker.123 Jump Limited, Bristol, BS34, failed to pay £1,381.72 to 15 workers.Hanham Toddlers PreSchool CIO, Bristol, BS15, failed to pay £1,319.08 to 13 workers.St. Mary’s School (Calne), Calne, SN11, failed to pay £1,116.06 to 1 worker.R. Bristol Opco Limited, Winterbourne, BS16, failed to pay £1,112.54 to 40 workers.BWW Limited, Bristol, BS16, failed to pay £821.00 to 1 worker.Smash Three (Swindon) Limited, Swindon, SN1, failed to pay £641.43 to 2 workers.Norwegian Homes Limited, Perranporth, TR6, failed to pay £549.39 to 1 worker.
If you would like to provide a comment on behalf of any of the businesses above, email sophie.grubb@reachplc.com for inclusion
The Department for Business and Trade said it had identified 389 firms which underpaid workers, with the full list available to view via the Mirror.
Published yesterday (March 19), it is the first “naming round” after Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed in last year’s Budget to regularly publish the name of offending companies.
Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden said: “Nobody should finish a week’s work and find they’ve been paid less than they’ve earned. I believe in a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
“That’s why we’re cracking down on employers who underpay.” An ISS spokesman said: “We can confirm the completion of an historic, comprehensive review into our past compliance with National Minimum Wage (NMW) Regulations.
“The review looked at employees’ pay from September 2017 to September 2023. It found, while ISS has always paid its employees at the appropriate rate, there were unintentional errors in the way it calculated paid time for some current and former employees during this period.
“During 2023, we contacted affected employees and former employees to arrange remediation. We have taken action to ensure future compliance with appropriate working practices.”