Minimum wage: Companies including Bupa, Costa, Hovis and Norwich City Football Club named and shamed for illegally underpaying staff - full list

Hundreds of employers have been handed penalties for illegally underpaying workers. A list of 389 employers from across the UK who failed to pay tens of thousands of workers the minimum wage has been released.

The employers, including well-known brands such as Bupa, Costa, Hovis and Norwich City Football Club, have been told to repay over £7.3 million in wages owed to workers to aid the cost of living for some of the lowest earners. The payback is part of the latest Government crackdown on those who fail to pay the minimum wage.

Data published on Thursday (March 19) reveals that businesses across sectors including social care, sports and retail, were among those failing to comply with minimum wage laws. New figures show a total of around £12.6 million in penalties have been issued to 389 employers, with these fines coming on top of the repaid wages.

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.

“A good employer doesn’t build their business on the back of unpaid wages, and I look forward to working with the new Fair Work Agency to ensure its powers are used to crack down on those who think the rules don’t apply to them.”

This is the first ‘naming round’ since the Chancellor’s Budget commitment to publish more frequently, in order to put more pressure on employers to keep their payroll up to date, and to boost workers’ confidence that when they’re treated poorly by their boss, swift justice will follow.

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. We’re making sure workers get the hard earned pay they deserve. I encourage every employer to check their payroll to ensure they don’t get caught out.”

This is the final naming round before the Fair Work Agency begins its work on April 7, a brand-new enforcement body formed through the recently passed Employment Rights Act to bring workers’ rights enforcement under one roof for the first time.

Offering a single, streamlined place where employers will be able to get guidance on how to follow the rules, the Fair Work Agency will have more muscle to ensure workers get every penny they are owed. This not only includes enforcing payment of the minimum wage but is soon set to tackle those who break the law by denying holiday and sick pay.

Today’s announcement also comes ahead of further increases to the minimum wage, which will see the lowest earners over 21 years old receive an annual pay boost of £900 for those working full time.

To see the full list of 389 employers being named for failing to pay the National Minimum Wage, visit the gov.uk website.