- Government to crackdown on those not paying employees National Minimum Wage
- Set for more regular public naming and shaming employers breaking the rules
- This comes after Government introduces the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights and enforcement for a generation
The Chancellor is expected to announce reforms to protect those on the National Minimum Wage, ensuring that no employer can exploit vulnerable workers.
As part of these plans, the Government will introduce more regular naming and shaming rounds – publicly naming employers found to have broken minimum wage rules and clearing the case backlog inherited by the previous government.
These changes will mean businesses breaking the rules will have no place to hide, and those on the minimum wage will be further protected by this Government.
This comes as the Chancellor is set to deliver a Budget that makes the fair choices to deliver on the country’s priorities to cut NHS waiting lists, cut national debt and cut the cost of living.
Last month 500 employers failed to pay the minimum wage to around 42,000 of the country’s lowest-paid workers. Big name brands were among those forced to reimburse employees and faced fines totalling £10.2 million for breaking the rules.
The Government is sending a clear message that it will not tolerate those who short-change their workers, regardless of their size or sector.
This action comes as the Government introduces the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights and enforcement for a generation through its Plan to Make Work Pay, which is set to directly benefit around 15 million workers – half of all UK employees.
An HMT source said: “This Government is cracking down on unscrupulous employers to protect the country’s lowest paid workers and ensure fair pay for hard work.
“We are sending a clear message – those who short-change their staff will not be allowed to hide.”
