Tag: Low Pay Commission

Record wage boost for nearly 3 million workers from next April

  • Biggest ever increase to the National Living Wage, worth over £1,800 a year for a full-time worker, fulfils manifesto pledge to end low pay.
  • Since 2010 the National Living Wage will have doubled in cash terms from around £10,500 to nearly £21,000 a year for a full-time worker.
  • For the first time, 21-year-olds on the National Living Wage will always earn two-thirds of average earnings.

The Chancellor will deliver a pay rise of more than £1,800 a year for a full-time worker, as he confirms that the National Living Wage will increase by over a pound an hour from April.

The almost 10% pay boost, from £10.42 to £11.44 an hour, is the biggest cash increase in the National Living Wage in more than a decade and fulfils the government’s manifesto pledge to end low pay for those on the National Living Wage.  

Eligibility for the National Living Wage will also be extended by reducing the age threshold to 21-year-olds for the first time.  A 21-year-old will get a 12.4% increase, from £10.18 this year to £11.44 next year, worth almost £2,300 a year for a full-time worker. 

National Minimum wage rates for younger workers will also increase. 18-20-year-olds will also get a wage boost to £8.60 per hour – a rise of £1.11.

The Department for Business and Trade estimate 2.7 million workers will directly benefit from the 2024 National Living Wage increase.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: “Next April all full-time workers on the National Living Wage will get a pay rise of over £1,800 a year. That will end low pay in this country, delivering on our manifesto promise.

“The National Living Wage has helped halve the number of people on low pay since 2010, making sure work always pays.”

The minimum hourly wage for an apprentice is boosted next year, with an 18-year-old apprentice in an industry like construction seeing their minimum hourly pay increase by over 20%, going from £5.28 to £6.40 an hour.  

The National Living Wage was introduced in 2016 and currently sets the minimum hourly pay a person over the age of 23 earns when working. The new rate will now apply to 21- and 22-year-olds, and means that the government has met its ambitious target of lifting the National Living Wage to two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, ending low hourly pay for those on the National Living Wage.  

Since 2010, the proportion of workers on low hourly pay has more than halved from 21.3% to 8.9%, supported by increases to the National Living Wage. Personal tax thresholds have been doubled, meaning a working person can now earn £1,000 a month tax-free for the first time.  

Bryan Sanderson, Low Pay Commission Chair, said: “The National Living Wage has delivered an improved standard of living to thousands of people who care for our children and elderly, work in farms and shops and at many other essential jobs.

“These efforts over the lifetime of the NLW mean over £9,000 p.a. more to a full time worker without any increase in unemployment.

“This hasn’t been easy for employers, with the economy facing a range of unprecedented challenges in recent years. The high degree of political and economic uncertainty has made assessing and forecasting the performance of the economy, and therefore our task, very difficult. It is a tribute to my fellow Commissioners that we have continued to achieve consensus.

“Our new recommendation of a National Living Wage of £11.44 attempts to steer a path through this uncertainty and achieve the government target of two-thirds of the median wage, an outcome which if accepted would position the U.K. at the forefront of comparable economies.”

Getting more people into work and ensuring work pays is ‘a priority for the UK government’. The Chancellor will set out further measures in today’s Autumn Statement.

Named and Shamed

More than 200 companies named for failing to pay their staff the minimum wage

  • 202 businesses named for failing to pay the minimum wage to lowest paid workers.
  • Employers ordered to repay workers and face penalties of nearly £7 million after breaches left 63,000 workers out of pocket.
  • Follows on from 9.7% increase in National Living Wage and Minimum Wage paid to almost 3 million workers.

Over 200 employers are today (21 June 2023) being named by the UK government for failing to pay their lowest paid staff the minimum wage.

The 202 employers were found to have failed to pay their workers almost £5 million in a clear breach of National Minimum Wage (NMW) law, leaving around 63,000 workers out of pocket.

Companies being named today range from major high street brands to small businesses and sole traders, in a clear message from government that no employer is exempt from paying their workers the statutory minimum wage.

As well as the usual suspects – the nail bars, hairdressers and security companies, some of the UK’s major retailers including Argos, W H Smith and Marks and Spencer are among the guilty companies.

One Edinburgh firm appears on the list. Social Care Alba Ltd failed to pay £650.38 to 8 workers.

Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said: Paying the legal minimum wage is non-negotiable and all businesses, whatever their size, should know better than to short-change hard-working staff.

“Most businesses do the right thing and look after their employees, but we’re sending a clear message to the minority who ignore the law: pay your staff properly or you’ll face the consequences.”

The businesses named in today’s list have since paid back what they owe to their staff and have also faced financial penalties. The investigations by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs concluded between 2017 and 2019.

The employers named today previously underpaid workers in the following ways:

  • 39% of employers deducted pay from workers’ wages.
  • 39% of employers failed to pay workers correctly for their working time.
  • 21% of employers paid the incorrect apprenticeship rate.

Whilst not all minimum wage underpayments are intentional, there is no excuse for underpaying workers.

Guidance for employers on pay is available on GOV.UK, and today the government has published additional advice about breaches and the steps employers should take to make sure they pay their workers correctly.

Bryan Sanderson Chair of the Low Pay Commission said: “The minimum wage acts as a guarantee to ensure all workers without exception receive a decent minimum standard of pay. Where employers break the law, they not only do a disservice to their staff but also undermine fair competition between businesses.

“Regular naming rounds should be a useful tool in raising awareness of underpayment and helping to protect minimum wage workers.”

The government has been clear that anyone entitled to be paid the minimum wage should receive it, and that robust enforcement action will be taken against employers who do not pay their staff correctly.

Since 2015, the budget for minimum wage enforcement has doubled with the government having ordered employers to repay over £100 million to 1 million workers.

The government is determined to ensure workers are paid for their hard work, having increased the National Living Wage by a record amount in April 2023.

This led to the lowest paid workers in the UK seeing a rise of 9.7%, keeping the UK government on track to achieve its manifesto commitment for the National Living Wage to equal two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, provided economic conditions allow.

List of employers named in Round 18

This is the full list of employers being named and shamed for failing to pay the National Minimum Wage, with fuller detail provided in the attached spreadsheet:

List of named employers (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 48.4 KB)

  1. WH Smith Retail Holdings Limited, Swindon, SN3, failed to pay £1,017,693.36 to 17,607 workers.
  2. Lloyds Pharmacy Limited, Coventry, CV2, failed to pay £903,307.47 to 7,916 workers.
  3. Marks and Spencer P.L.C., London, W2, failed to pay £578,390.79 to 5,363 workers.
  4. Argos Limited, Milton Keynes, MK9, failed to pay £480,093.58 to 10,399 workers.
  5. Buzz Group Limited – Voluntary Arrangement 3/8/20, Nottingham, NG7, failed to pay £319,297.21 to 3,448 workers.
  6. Baxterstorey Limited, Reading, RG6, failed to pay £185,242.24 to 2,166 workers.
  7. McNicholas Construction Services Limited, Elstree, WD6, failed to pay £170,517.57 to 704 workers.
  8. Showsec International Limited, Leicester, LE1, failed to pay £107,835.49 to 5,574 workers.
  9. Brunning and Price Limited, Chester, CH3, failed to pay £98,675.37 to 1,500 workers.
  10. Chanel Limited, Croydon, CR9, failed to pay £70,413.59 to 250 workers.
  11. AAH Limited, Coventry, CV2, failed to pay £42,359.39 to 201 workers.
  12. Mr John Bowden & Mr Gary Bowden, trading as Dulhorn Farm Holiday Park, Weston-Super-Mare, BS24, failed to pay £37,880.77 to 13 workers.
  13. 4 Site Security Services Limited, Leeds, LS11, failed to pay £36,388.31 to 170 workers.
  14. UK Pharmaservices Ltd, Bradford, BD9, failed to pay £35,094.66 to 13 workers.
  15. Victor Foster Poultry Services Limited, Markethill, BT60, failed to pay £33,045.17 to 284 workers.
  16. Loganair Limited, Paisley, PA3, failed to pay £24,367 to 43 workers.
  17. Tudor Employment Agency Limited, Walsall, WS1, failed to pay £22,606.96 to 930 workers.
  18. Wellingstone Ltd, trading as East Orient Buffet Restaurant, Warrington, WA1, failed to pay £21,127.65 to 8 workers.
  19. Dune Group Limited, London, NW8, failed to pay £21,088.48 to 339 workers.
  20. OMI Facilities Limited, Glasgow, G4, failed to pay £20,622.77 to 9 workers.
  21. The Lion Hotel (Criccieth) Limited, trading as The Lion Hotel, Criccieth, LL52, failed to pay £20,322.27 to 9 workers.
  22. Executive Sport Limited, London, SW19, failed to pay £20,200.34 to 8 workers.
  23. Lemon Tree Manchester Ltd, Manchester, M12, failed to pay £18,976.19 to 17 workers.
  24. TFL Service Centre Limited – Liquidation 13/12/21, traded as Wimbledon Service Centre, London, SW19, failed to pay £18,377.98 to 7 workers.
  25. ALG Cognita Limited, Abingdon, OX14, failed to pay £17,364.51 to 318 workers.
  26. Twenty Four Seven Recruitment Services Limited, Wrexham, LL13, failed to pay £17,049.34 to 213 workers.
  27. Macdonald Hotels (Management) Limited, Bathgate, EH48, failed to pay £16,111.76 to 64 workers.
  28. Kuehne + Nagel Limited, Milton Keynes, MK14, failed to pay £14,589.92 to 173 workers.
  29. Hall & Woodhouse Limited, Blandford, DT11, failed to pay £14,354.5 to 23 workers.
  30. Hickory’s (ROS) Limited, trading as Hickory’s Smokehouse, Chester, CH3, failed to pay £14,141.12 to 157 workers.
  31. Baxterstorey Scotland Limited, Livingston, EH54, failed to pay £13,618.29 to 186 workers.
  32. Oulton Hall Hotel Trading Limited – Liquidation 29/12/20, Leeds, LS26, failed to pay £13,326.97 to 66 workers.
  33. Momentum Instore Limited, Macclesfield, SK10, failed to pay £12,501.51 to 434 workers.
  34. Arnold Clark Automobiles Limited, Glasgow, G52, failed to pay £12,215.56 to 48 workers.
  35. Park View Health Clubs Limited, London, N3, failed to pay £12,191.87 to 4 workers.
  36. Morleys Stores Limited, London, SW9, failed to pay £11,640.77 to 78 workers.
  37. Lex Legal (UK) Ltd, Bolton, BL3, failed to pay £11,559.42 to 10 workers.
  38. Oasis and Warehouse Limited – in administration 15/04/20, Witney, OX29, failed to pay £10,963.70 to 996 workers.
  39. Oxford United Football Club Limited, Oxford, OX4, failed to pay £10,826.74 to 31 workers.
  40. Elite Recruitment Agency Limited – Dissolved 22/11/2022, Norwich, NR5, failed to pay £10,554.39 to 1 worker.
  41. Holroyd Howe Limited, Reading, RG6, failed to pay £10,302.15 to 129 workers.
  42. Mr Paul Wright, trading as Baccarat Hair Design, Beckenham, BR3, failed to pay £10,178.71 to 9 workers.
  43. Verve Personnel Limited, Manchester, M1, failed to pay £10,124.04 to 794 workers.
  44. Contemplation Homes Limited, Waterlooville, PO7, failed to pay £10,095.23 to 87 workers.
  45. The Park Hotel Ayrshire Limited, Kilmarnock, KA1, failed to pay £10,088.99 to 129 workers.
  46. Portway Crown Limited – Dissolved 11/05/21, traded as Rose and Crown, Birmingham, B48, failed to pay £9,809.24 to 3 workers.
  47. Thomas Commercial Cleaning Limited – under new ownership, Chipping Norton, OX7, failed to pay £9,762.56 to 6 workers.
  48. Delta Crewe Hall Op Co Limited, Crewe, CW1, failed to pay £9,626.89 to 29 workers.
  49. Top Nails Livingston Ltd. – Dissolved 28/9/21, Livingston, EH54, failed to pay £9,266.40 to 5 workers.
  50. Acropolis Corporate Limited – Liquidation 19/05/2022, traded as Cedar Court Hotels, Wakefield, WF2, failed to pay £9,150.60 to 56 workers.
  51. Avondale Foods (Craigavon) Limited, Craigavon, BT66, failed to pay £9,007.35 to 149 workers.
  52. Delta Telford Op Co Limited, Telford, TF7, failed to pay £8,871.76 to 12 workers.
  53. M1 Valet Centre Ltd – Dissolved 12/11/2019, Glasgow, G42, failed to pay £7,807.71 to 3 workers.
  54. Warrington Football Club Limited (The), trading as Warrington Wolves, Warrington, WA2, failed to pay £7,720.61 to 34 workers.
  55. Mr Faried Khan, trading as The News Shop, Manchester, M24, failed to pay £7,393.47 to 1 worker.
  56. Hudsons 23 Limited, trading as 23 Taxis, Hartlepool, TS24, failed to pay £7,190.46 to 83 workers.
  57. Dazzle Pristine Car Wash & Vehicle Servicing Ltd, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39, failed to pay £7,051.08 to 5 workers.
  58. Lucknam Park Hotels Limited, Colerne, SN14, failed to pay £6,990.12 to 33 workers.
  59. PFF Packaging (Sedgefield) Limited, Stockton-on -Tees, TS21, failed to pay £6,115.36 to 99 workers.
  60. Mr Harbhajan Singh Walia, trading as Parkside International Hotel, Reading, RG30, failed to pay £5,936.40 to 2 workers.
  61. D & F Trading Ltd – Dissolved 11/1/22, Huddersfield, HD4, failed to pay £5,920.22 to 7 workers.
  62. “Elvis Car Wash Ltd – Dissolved 3/11/20, London, SE6, failed to pay £5,768.98 to 3 workers.”
  63. Roka Mayfair Limited, London, W1K, failed to pay £5,741.87 to 16 workers.
  64. Mr Jangi Ismail Hamid, Doncaster, DN2, failed to pay £5,714.27 to 6 workers.
  65. The House of Bruar Limited, Perth, PH18, failed to pay £5,543.80 to 57 workers.
  66. Thanet Early Years Project, Broadstairs, CT10, failed to pay £5,487.97 to 27 workers.
  67. Delta Forest Pines Op Co Limited, trading as DoubleTree by Hilton Forest Pines Spa & Golf Resort, Brigg, DN20, failed to pay £5,471.81 to 17 workers.
  68. Nurse 365 Limited, Whitchurch, SY13, failed to pay £5,238.01 to 8 workers.
  69. Ross Labels Limited, Ross-on-Wye, HR9, failed to pay £5,221.27 to 106 workers.
  70. Little Poppets Nurseries Limited, Leicester, LE5, failed to pay £5,214.88 to 19 workers.
  71. Tenpin (Scotland) Limited, trading as Pro Bowl Glenrothes, Glenrothes, KY7, failed to pay £5,174.65 to 1 worker.
  72. Virgin Active Limited, London, EC1A, failed to pay £5,074.96 to 80 workers.
  73. Dr Tyrone Castles, trading as The Royal Hotel, Penrith, CA11, failed to pay £4,974.72 to 9 workers.
  74. All Day Recruitment Limited, Rickmansworth, WD3, failed to pay £4,896.57 to 25 workers.
  75. Casual Dining Restaurants Group Limited – Dissolved 4/10/22, London, NW1, failed to pay £4,647.70 to 20 workers.
  76. Hatch Brothers Limited, trading as Genesis Crafty (now under new ownership), Magherafelt, BT45, failed to pay £4,439.53 to 7 workers.
  77. Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club, Helensburgh, G84, failed to pay £4,426.73 to 1 worker.
  78. Express Valeting Limited, Southport, PR9, failed to pay £4,338.3 to 3 workers.
  79. Cater Link Limited, Reading, RG6, failed to pay £4,285.35 to 61 workers.
  80. Day of Sunshine (UK) Ltd, Lytham St Annes, FY8, failed to pay £4,275.19 to 2 workers.
  81. Tot Stop Pre School & Early Years Centre Ltd, Driffield, YO25, failed to pay £4,213.77 to 10 workers.
  82. H.S. Walia Limited, trading as Lawn & Parkside International Hotels, Reading, RG30, failed to pay £4,198.85 to 1 worker.
  83. Velocity Interactive Limited – Dissolved 13/7/2021, London, EC2A, failed to pay £3,868.40 to 2 workers.
  84. B H Live, Bournemouth, BH2, failed to pay £3,757.43 to 130 workers.
  85. Few Inns Limited, Bampton, OX18, failed to pay £3,756.10 to 6 workers.
  86. Hunter’s Moon UK Limited, trading as Margaret Kimber, Glastonbury, BA6, failed to pay £3,653.22 to 8 workers.
  87. The Organic Hair Company Limited, Moreton In Marsh, GL56, failed to pay £3,590.83 to 4 workers.
  88. Ms Dimitroulla Antoniou, trading as Montage, London, N1, failed to pay £3,579.72 to 2 workers.
  89. Little Sunbeams Pre-School (Portsmouth), Portsmouth, PO2, failed to pay £3,561.97 to 9 workers.
  90. Reahs Restaurant Ltd, trading as The Portmor, Blackwatertown, BT71, failed to pay £3,292 to 8 workers.
  91. Delta Park Op Co Limited, Leeds, LS27, failed to pay £3,242.59 to 26 workers.
  92. Landlet Limited – in administration 7/7/22, traded as Belgrave House Hotel and Comfort Hotel Luton, London, SW1V, failed to pay £3,224.06 to 9 workers.
  93. Toolstation Limited, Bridgwater, TA6, failed to pay £3,090.18 to 79 workers.
  94. USA Car Wash (Derby) Limited, Derby, DE21, failed to pay £3,005.10 to 9 workers.
  95. The Inveraray Inn Limited, trading as The George Hotel, Inveraray, PA32, failed to pay £2,933.93 to 25 workers.
  96. Blackpool Pleasure Beach Limited, Blackpool, FY4, failed to pay £2,866.95 to 12 workers.
  97. Eunoia Enterprises Limited, Nottingham, NG7, failed to pay £2,798.84 to 31 workers.
  98. Mrs Pauline Butfield, trading as Pauline’s Hair & Beauty, York, YO26, failed to pay £2,791.84 to 1 worker.
  99. Bubbles Sussex Services Limited, Eastbourne, BN23, failed to pay £2,654.37 to 9 workers.
  100. Ridgeway Private Day Nursery Limited – Dissolved 19/4/22, Richmond, DL10, failed to pay £2,600 to 3 workers.
  101. K&R Blue Bakery Limited – Dissolved 9/11/21, Bognor Regis, PO22, failed to pay £2,574.87 to 4 workers.
  102. Integra Accounting Limited, Hinkley, LE10, failed to pay £2,566.42 to 5 workers.
  103. Crofton Park Cars Ltd – Dissolved 23/7/19, London, SE4, failed to pay £2,549.48 to 1 worker.
  104. The Young Explorers Day Nursery Limited, Matlock, DE4, failed to pay £2,521.93 to 14 workers.
  105. Mr Kristopher George Shenton, trading as KGS Gas Services, Stoke on Trent, ST2, failed to pay £2,428.96 to 1 worker.
  106. O’Connor’s Restaurant Ltd, trading as O’Connor’s Bar and Restaurant, Omagh, BT78, failed to pay £2,413.89 to 1 worker.
  107. WGAB Limited, trading as Excel Clothing, Newtownards, BT23, failed to pay £2,369.12 to 18 workers.
  108. ITL (North East) Limited, Gateshead, NE10, failed to pay £2,346.53 to 2 workers.
  109. Mer Manor Operations Limited, London, W1G, failed to pay £2,332.78 to 98 workers.
  110. Arcadia Group Limited, London, W1T, failed to pay £2,233.19 to 109 workers.
  111. Curran Court Hotel 2017 Limited, Larne, BT40, failed to pay £2,003.07 to 63 workers.
  112. Copona Limited – Dissolved 06/04/21, traded as Exmouth Laundry Services, Exmouth, EX8, failed to pay £1,994.61 to 1 worker.
  113. OMI Management Ltd, Glasgow, G4, failed to pay £1,983.23 to 2 workers.
  114. MJ Services East Limited – Notice of move from Administration to Dissolution 28/12/22, Grimsby, DN32, failed to pay £1,977.97 to 2 workers.
  115. Careers Advice & Learning Centre Limited – Active proposal to strike off, Leicester, LE3, failed to pay £1,972.73 to 6 workers.
  116. Disha (Newcastle) Ltd, trading as Subway, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12, failed to pay £1,948.98 to 2 workers.
  117. “Core Assetz Ltd – Dissolved 26/11/19, Birmingham, B16, failed to pay £1,928.61 to 3 workers.”
  118. Phoenix Eye Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE12, failed to pay £1,917.07 to 301 workers.
  119. Arla Foods Limited, Leeds, LS10, failed to pay £1,916.60 to 14 workers.
  120. Calmac Services Limited, trading as Riverside Vets Canvey, Canvey Island, SS8, failed to pay £1,912.81 to 1 worker.
  121. Central Fitness Limited, Accrington, BB5, failed to pay £1,909.17 to 1 worker.
  122. Jettco Plastering Limited, Colchester, CO2, failed to pay £1,905.95 to 1 worker.
  123. Mr Makudur Rahman, trading as Ghandi Indian Restaurant, Exeter, EX4, failed to pay £1,896.70 to 2 workers.
  124. Mack Daddys Gloucester Road Limited – Dissolved 18/10/2022, Bristol, BS7, failed to pay £1,863.80 to 2 workers.
  125. Mr Vinodrai Pranjivanbhai Tanna, trading as Tanna Pharmacy, Harrow, HA5, failed to pay £1,815.53 to 1 worker.
  126. Grimethorpe Hand Car Wash Ltd, Barnsley, S72, failed to pay £1,793.29 to 1 worker.
  127. George Day Nurseries Limited, trading as Orpington Day Nursery, Orpington, BR6, failed to pay £1,776.75 to 4 workers.
  128. Mrs Karen Wells, trading as Cream Hair Design, South Shields, NE33, failed to pay £1,776.15 to 2 workers.
  129. Mrs Patricia Jervis, trading as Bumble Beez, Dunfermline, KY12, failed to pay £1,768.87 to 7 workers.
  130. Wren Kitchens Limited, Barton on Humber, DN18, failed to pay £1,675.73 to 16 workers.
  131. Bendart Limited, trading as Blackwell Print, Great Yarmouth, NR30, failed to pay £1,585.08 to 2 workers.
  132. Uppal Convenience Stores Limited, trading as Spar, Runcorn, WA7, failed to pay £1,574.02 to 1 worker.
  133. Mrs Zara Emma Mason, trading as The Lamb Inn, Salisbury, SP5, failed to pay £1,567.39 to 3 workers.
  134. Checkpoint Car Care Ltd – Dissolved 1/12/20, Hebden Bridge, HX7, failed to pay £1,532.25 to 2 workers.
  135. Mr Richard Woodland, trading as Woodland Autos, Chard, TA20, failed to pay £1,530.42 to 1 worker.
  136. Westbourne Leisure Limited, trading as The Strawberry Bank Hotel, Coventry, CV7, failed to pay £1,513.44 to 31 workers.
  137. The Pit Stop (Colchester) Limited, Great Bentley Colchester, CO7, failed to pay £1,474.69 to 1 worker.
  138. Mrs Helen Wilson, trading as The Hygiene Machine, Hexham, NE46, failed to pay £1,462.26 to 2 workers.
  139. Delta Ashford Op Co Limited, trading as Ashford International Hotel, Ashford, TN24, failed to pay £1,435.91 to 12 workers.
  140. Version Limited, trading as La Coupe Studio, Sheffield, S1, failed to pay £1,428.01 to 1 worker.
  141. M R Academy Limited – Dissolved 24/12/19, traded as Sugarcoat Nails, London, E15, failed to pay £1,391.42 to 3 workers.
  142. Ms Joanne Sarabia, trading as Secrets Hair & Beauty, Selby, YO8, failed to pay £1,373.90 to 1 worker.
  143. Springvale Leather Limited, Rossendale, BB4, failed to pay £1,373.23 to 1 worker.
  144. The Trading Mill Limited – Dissolved 17/03/20, Wakefield, WF1, failed to pay £1,336.33 to 4 workers.
  145. Dudley Taylor Pharmacies Limited, Warwick, CV34, failed to pay £1,276.45 to 174 workers.
  146. St. Nicholas House Ltd, Powys, SY15, failed to pay £1,178.53 to 2 workers.
  147. Whitbread Group PLC, Dunstable, LU5, failed to pay £1,118.37 to 1 worker.
  148. Glowing Global Advertising Limited – Dissolved 12/10/2021, Manchester, M1, failed to pay £1,116.99 to 4 workers.
  149. Sahara Global Ltd, trading as A1 Hand Car Wash, Dundee, DD1, failed to pay £1,087.87 to 4 workers.
  150. Delta Chesford Grange OP CO Limited, trading as Chesford Grange Hotel, Warwick, CV8, failed to pay £1,066.21 to 6 workers.
  151. Vue Cinemas (UK) Limited, London, W4, failed to pay £1,029.13 to 8 workers.
  152. Heritage Hotels Blackpool Limited – Liquidation 16/11/22, traded as Melville Hotel, Blackpool, FY1, failed to pay £1,027.65 to 2 workers.
  153. Nail Retreat London Limited – Dissolved 25/06/19, London, NW10, failed to pay £1,015.23 to 2 workers.
  154. D&M Middleton Limited, Cleckheaton, BD19, failed to pay £960.64 to 4 workers.
  155. Bar Lounge Limited, Chester, CH1, failed to pay £951.17 to 23 workers.
  156. BNP Paribas Real Estate Advisory & Property Management UK Limited, London, EC2V, failed to pay £933.12 to 3 workers.
  157. Portal Security Ltd, Glasgow, G67, failed to pay £927.61 to 55 workers.
  158. North Norfolk Hospitality Limited, trading as The Cliftonville Hotel, Cromer, NR27, failed to pay £908.56 to 3 workers.
  159. Serenity Health Care (Team) Ltd – active proposal to strike off, County Durham, TS29, failed to pay £904.09 to 2 workers.
  160. The Rides Motor Services Limited, Waltham Cross, EN8, failed to pay £877.42 to 3 workers.
  161. St. Mark’s Pre-School, Salisbury, SP1, failed to pay £870.55 to 6 workers.
  162. Little Treasures Nurseries Kirton Ltd, Kirton, PE20, failed to pay £866.01 to 2 workers.
  163. Mr Rassul Kadir, trading as Talbot Road Car Wash, Blackpool, FY1, failed to pay £864.80 to 5 workers.
  164. Mr Thomas O’Brien & Mr Lee Taylor, trading as Chambers Hair Design, Manchester, M3, failed to pay £858.90 to 1 worker.
  165. Elmhurst School Limited, South Croydon, CR2, failed to pay £829.32 to 1 worker.
  166. Amira G Foods Limited, London, W1J, failed to pay £796.43 to 1 worker.
  167. Mr R.E. Blair and Mrs June Victoria Blair, trading as Higher Trenoweth Farm, St. Austell, PL28, failed to pay £776.76 to 1 worker.
  168. Comptons 2000 Limited, Birmingham, B12, failed to pay £772.36 to 3 workers.
  169. LDH Hotels Limited, trading as The Tongue Hotel, Lairg, IV27, failed to pay £771.48 to 11 workers.
  170. Pizza & Co West Road Limited – Dissolved 15/12/20, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4, failed to pay £757.62 to 1 worker.
  171. Tangerine Properties Ltd – Dissolved 15/12/20, Cambridge, CB22, failed to pay £743.21 to 5 workers.
  172. Ms Claire Frances, trading as Claire Frances Hairdressing, Glasgow, G3, failed to pay £739.02 to 1 worker.
  173. Delta Hampshire Court Op Co Limited, trading as Hampshire Court Hotel, Basingstoke, RG24, failed to pay £737.96 to 10 workers.
  174. Delta Stratford Manor Op Co Limited, Leeds, LS27, failed to pay £728.77 to 8 workers.
  175. Fintax UK Limited, Birmingham, B8, failed to pay £727.79 to 3 workers.
  176. Forza GB (Great Britain) Ltd, Caldicot, NP26, failed to pay £721.34 to 2 workers.
  177. Benugo Limited, Reading, RG6, failed to pay £717.80 to 12 workers.
  178. AMYU Limited – Dissolved 20/10/20, traded as Golden Spice Kebab House, Derby, DE11, failed to pay £710.20 to 4 workers.
  179. Old Plaza Ltd, Manchester, M34, failed to pay £692.60 to 15 workers.
  180. The Governors, trading as Pheasey Park Farm Primary School and Children’s Centre, Pheasey Park Farm School, Birmingham, B43, failed to pay £683.58 to 8 workers.
  181. You Me Thai Ltd – Dissolved 28/1/20, Hastings, TN34, failed to pay £667.70 to 2 workers.
  182. The Network (Field Marketing & Promotions) Company Limited, trading as JYL Hand to Hand, London, E3, failed to pay £661.37 to 14 workers.
  183. Ripon Spa Hotel Limited, Ripon, HG4, failed to pay £654.85 to 8 workers.
  184. Social Care Alba Ltd, Edinburgh, EH8, failed to pay £650.38 to 8 workers.
  185. The H Room Limited – Active proposal to strike off, Reading, RG1, failed to pay £639.67 to 4 workers.
  186. Eurotherm Limited, Telford, TF3, failed to pay £639.67 to 7 workers.
  187. Mr Henry Gornall, Mrs Joesphine Gornall, Mrs Lisa Gornall and Mr Richard Gornall, trading as The Hideaway at Windermere, Windermere, LA23, failed to pay £620.75 to 3 workers.
  188. Anthony John Salons Limited, Lichfield, WS14, failed to pay £615.46 to 1 worker.
  189. The Learning Mill Ltd, Leek, ST13, failed to pay £612.69 to 1 worker.
  190. Moses Basket Ltd, trading as Happi Feet, Bexley, DA17, failed to pay £610.65 to 10 workers.
  191. Super Noodles Catering Limited – Dissolved 8/3/22, Canterbury, CT1, failed to pay £601.24 to 1 worker.
  192. Al-Haqq UK Ltd, trading as Heavenly Desserts, Northampton, NN1, failed to pay £594.62 to 3 workers.
  193. Delta Belton Woods Op Co Limited, Grantham, NG32, failed to pay £587.56 to 3 workers.
  194. 727 Your Store Limited, Craigavon, BT62, failed to pay £580.37 to 1 worker.
  195. The Green Courier Limited, trading as Churchill Express, London, W3, failed to pay £576.08 to 1 worker.
  196. Tyre Torque Doncaster Limited, Doncaster, DN3, failed to pay £566.16 to 6 workers.
  197. United Church Schools Trust, Peterborough, PE3, failed to pay £554.82 to 2 workers.
  198. Global Education Management Systems Limited, trading as GEMS Education, London, SW1Y, failed to pay £530.42 to 1 worker.
  199. Mr Shobuz Ali, trading as Khalisa Indian Restaurant, Liverpool, L16, failed to pay £526.07 to 2 workers.
  200. JJJ-D Corporation Ltd – Liquidation 7/7/22, Bury, BL9, failed to pay £509.20 to 10 workers.
  201. Edenmore Golf & Country Club Ltd, Magheralin, BT67, failed to pay £506.52 to 11 workers.
  202. Mr Patrick Ginnelly, Nuneaton, CV11, failed to pay £502.37 to 1 worker.

Biggest ever cash increase in National Living Wage to boost pay for millions

Low-paid workers across the country will receive a pay increase this weekend as all rates of the National Minimum Wage rise.

The National Living Wage (NLW) increases on Saturday 1 April by 9.7 per cent to £10.42, providing a pay rise to millions of workers aged 23 and over across the UK. 21-22 year olds will see their pay increase by 10.9 per cent to £10.18 per hour while pay for younger workers and apprentices will also rise by 9.7 per cent.

NMW rateAnnual increase (£)Annual increase (per cent)
National Living Wage (23+)£10.420.929.7
21-22 Year Old Rate£10.181.0010.9
18-20 Year Old Rate£7.490.669.7
16-17 Year Old Rate£5.280.479.7
Apprentice Rate£5.280.479.7
Accommodation Offset£9.100.404.6

These increases follow recommendations made to the Government by the Low Pay Commission (LPC) in the autumn.

The NLW increase means another significant step towards reaching the Government’s target of two-thirds of median earnings by 2024. The increase is also expected to boost the real value of the NLW, restoring most of the real value lost since April 2021.

The LPC is now consulting on National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates for April 2024 and beyond and will make its recommendations to the Government in October.

The consultation will run from 23 March to 9 June 2023. For more information, including how to submit responses, click here.

Bryan Sanderson, Chair of the Low Pay Commission, said: “From April, millions of workers will benefit from these increases to the NMW and NLW. Despite turbulent economic conditions, the labour market has remained strong and unemployment is low.

“We remain confident that this increase is unlikely to have a detrimental impact. Indeed, the high levels of inflation are felt more acutely by those on low pay who spend a higher proportion of their income on energy and food.

“The new NLW rate keeps us on track to reach the Government’s target of two-thirds of median earnings by 2024. We estimate the NLW will need to rise next year to between £10.90 and £11.43 to meet this target. We also remain committed to lowering the NLW age threshold to 21 years of age in 2024.

“In our consultation this year we are also looking beyond 2024, and inviting evidence and views on the future of minimum wage policy once the two-thirds target is achieved. The NMW is a central feature of the UK labour market and workers and employers alike will want to contribute to the debate about its future.”

The LPC has published a short report which looks ahead at what the new rates will mean, and sets out an updated path of the NLW to its target of two-thirds of median hourly earnings by 2024.

Estimating the forward path of the NLW is very challenging as earnings growth is difficult to measure and predict in the current economic climate. Our central estimate of the on-course rate of the NLW for 2024 is £11.16, within a range of £10.90 to £11.43.

Pay boost for millions as National Minimum and Living Wage rates go up from today

  • Around 2.5 million UK workers will receive a pay rise, as the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increase today 
  • £1,000 a year pay rise for full time workers following the largest ever uplift to the National Living Wage for workers aged 23 and over.
  • Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng: “While no government can control the global factors pushing up the cost of everyday essentials, we will absolutely act wherever we can to mitigate rising costs.”

Millions of UK workers will receive a pay rise from today (Friday 1 April), as the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rise comes into effect.

The uplift in wages, which will benefit around 2.5 million people, includes the largest ever increase to the National Living Wage. It will put £1,000 a year more into full-time workers’ pay packets, helping to ease cost of living pressures.

With today’s rise, the yearly earnings of a full-time worker on the National Living Wage will have increased by over £5,000 since the introduction of the National Living Wage by the Government in April 2016.

As a direct result of government action, the current number of employees on the payroll is over 600,000 more than pre-pandemic levels – and unemployment has fallen to 3.9%.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “We have never been more determined to make work pay, and by providing the biggest cash increase ever to the National Living Wage from today, we are giving a boost to millions of UK workers.

“While no government can control the global factors pushing up the cost of everyday essentials, we will absolutely act wherever we can to mitigate rising costs.

“With more employees on the payroll than ever before, this government will continue to stand up for workers.”

Today’s uplift will particularly benefit workers in sectors such as retail, hospitality and cleaning and maintenance. Apprentices will also get a large 11.9% increase to their minimum hourly pay, with 21-22 year-olds seeing an immediate 9.8% rise. The National Living Wage, the minimum wage for over 23-year-olds, will now move up to £9.50 an hour.

Last year, the age threshold for the rate moved from age 25 to 23, meaning that more young workers are now eligible for a higher wage.

The new National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates are both statutory minimums, and businesses are encouraged to pay workers above these whenever they can afford to do so.

Recent studies show significant benefits for employers who pay their staff higher wages, which includes higher job retention and staff productivity.

In full, the increases from 1 April 2022 are:

Picture1

With the rates going up from today, workers across the UK are being urged to check they are being paid properly. This can be done by visiting the Check Your Pay site, which also offers advice on what to do if you are being underpaid.

The Government also today announced it will be launching a communications campaign in the coming weeks to help increase understanding among minimum and living wage earners around the wages they are legally entitled to, as well as the steps they can take if they are concerned they are being underpaid.

Record increases in global gas prices this year saw the Energy Price Cap, set by the independent regulator Ofgem, rise by 54%. While a worrying time for households, the price cap continues to insulate millions of households from high wholesale gas prices.

Today’s uplift comes alongside further government measures worth over £9.1 billion to support people across the UK with rising energy bills, with the majority of households receiving £350 in total. This will help over 28 million households affected by the large spike in global energy prices, protecting them from half of the average forecast bill rise.

The package includes a £150 rebate in Council Tax bills for all households in Bands A-D in England – 80% of households – with payments being made from today (1 April 2022), and a £200 reduction in energy bills for all households from October 2022 through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

This contributes to wider government support to ease cost of living pressures worth £22billion next financial year as well as government plans to drive £6 billion into making homes more energy efficient over the next ten years, which is vital to keeping household energy costs down.

The government is also announcing further help for low-income households to meet energy costs with the publication of consultation responses on the extension of the Warm Homes Discount and Energy Company Obligation schemes. 

The Warm Homes Discount scheme is being extended until 2025/26 and expanded to reduce the energy costs of around £3 million low-income and vulnerable households every year, while the Energy Company Obligation scheme will see £1 billion annual funding until 2026 to help upgrade energy efficiency measures in 450,000 homes, cutting an average of £300 off energy bills. 

Going even further to ease the cost of living, last week as part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new Tax Plan, including cuts to fuel duty by 5p per litre, and that energy efficiency measures can be installed in homes VAT free for the first time ever.

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “This historic increase will mean a pay rise for millions of hard-working Brits – with an average full-time worker pocketing an extra £1,000 a year.

“We’re doing everything we can to ensure people keep more of what they earn in these challenging times, with a new Tax Plan that delivers tax cuts for nearly 30 million people as well as £22billion to help with the cost of living.”

Bryan Sanderson Chair of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) said: “The Business Secretary’s strong support is especially welcome at this difficult time. Workers on the minimum wage; care for our elderly and sick, harvest and deliver our food, and do a multitude of other tasks which help us all.

“Many public sector workers including for example teaching assistants will also shortly be included. They all deserve to be properly remunerated and respected as key members of our society.

“The Low Pay Commission met with around a hundred representative bodies last year before making its recommendations. We are frequently their main sometimes even their only advocates. With government support we will continue to try to ensure that they do not suffer from the neglect which was so often characteristic of the past.”

‘Large’ minimum wage increase to boost low-paid workers’ incomes

The National Living Wage (NLW) will rise to £9.50 from 1 April 2022. This represents an increase of 59 pence or 6.6 per cent.

The Low Pay Commission’s recommendations set the minimum wage back on track to reach the Government’s target of two-thirds of median earnings by 2024. The recommendations were unanimously agreed by Commissioners and accepted in full by the Government.

Read the LPC’s recommendations to Government here

The increases announced yesterday will support the wages and living standards of low-paid workers at a time when pay growth is robust across the economy. They come against a backdrop of strong GDP forecasts, employment returning to pre-pandemic levels and businesses advertising record numbers of vacancies.

Bryan Sanderson, Low Pay Commission Chair, said: “The rates we recommended will put money in the pockets of care-workers, food distributors and many other groups of the lowest-paid members of our society up and down the UK. Many of them have made a vital contribution during the last few difficult months.

“The impact on communities is considerable – Blackpool for example will benefit by at least £6.1m from pay increases to its low-paid workers.

“The pandemic has been an exceptionally difficulty period for businesses and workers alike, but the labour market has recovered strongly and the economy is expected to continue to grow over the next year. This is attributable in no small part to comprehensive Government support.

“Our value as a social partnership is to find a consensus recommendation acceptable to both sides of industry.”

Alongside the NLW increase announced yesterday, the Commission recommended significant rises in National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates for younger workers.

The 21-22 Year Old Rate will increase to £9.18, narrowing the gap with the NLW and leaving this age group on course to receive the full NLW by 2024.

NMW rates for 18-20 and 16-17 year olds will increase in line with underlying wage growth, protecting earnings for young workers while recognising their higher risk of unemployment.

The minimum wage for apprentices will increase by 51p, bringing it in line with the 16-17 Year Old Rate.

Rate from April 2022Current rate (April 2021 to March 2022)Increase
National Living Wage£9.50£8.916.6%
21-22 Year Old Rate£9.18£8.369.8%
18-20 Year Old Rate£6.83£6.564.1%
16-17 Year Old Rate£4.81£4.624.1%
Apprentice Rate£4.81£4.3011.9%
Accommodation Offset£8.70£8.364.1%

Commissioners’ advice to the Government this year covers several areas.

The LPC has reviewed minimum wage rules for domestic workers and recommended that an exemption that has prevented au pairs and domestic workers from earning the minimum wage is removed.

Commissioners have also examined the evidence around the NLW’s impacts on different regions of the UK and on groups of workers with protected characteristics.

LPC_summary_of_findings_2021_ADownload

191 employers named and shamed for cheating their workers

  • Government names and shames 191 employers who have underpaid workers, including major household names
  • named firms have been fined for owing £2.1 million to over 34,000 workers
  • Business Minister Paul Scully: “Employers that short-change workers won’t get off lightly”

Today (Thursday 5 August) 191 businesses are being named for breaking national minimum wage law. Twenty-two of them are in Scotland.

Following investigations by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, a total of £2.1 million was found to be owed to over 34,000 workers.

The breaches took place between 2011 and 2018. Named employers have since been made to pay back what they owed, and were fined an additional £3.2 million, showing it is never acceptable to underpay workers.

The UK government recently gave millions a pay rise, by increasing National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates in April 2021. The rise means someone working full time on the National Living Wage will be taking home £5,400 more annually than they were in 2010. Every single UK worker is entitled to the National Minimum Wage, no matter their age or profession.

Whilst not all minimum wage underpayments are intentional, it has always been the responsibility of all employers to abide by the law. Clear guidance is available on gov.uk, which all employers should check.

Minimum wage breaches can occur when workers are being paid on or just above the minimum wage rate, and then have deductions from their pay for uniform or accommodation.

The employers named today previously underpaid workers in the following ways:

  • 47% wrongly deducted pay from workers’ wages, including for uniform and expenses
  • 30% failed to pay workers for all the time they had worked, such as when they worked overtime
  • 19% paid the incorrect apprenticeship rate

Business Minister Paul Scully said: “Our minimum wage laws are there to ensure a fair day’s work gets a fair day’s pay – it is unacceptable for any company to come up short.

“All employers, including those on this list, need to pay workers properly.

“This government will continue to protect workers’ rights vigilantly, and employers that short-change workers won’t get off lightly.”

Employers who pay workers less than the minimum wage have to pay back arrears of wages to the worker at current minimum wage rates. They also face hefty financial penalties of up to 200% of arrears – capped at £20,000 per worker – which are paid to the government. Since 2015 the government has ordered employers to repay over £100 million to 1 million workers.

A significant number of the minimum wage breaches identified today affected those on apprenticeships. Today the government has published new guidance to ensure employers know exactly what they need to do to pay their apprentices, and all workers, correctly.

National Minimum Wage Naming Scheme Round 17, August 2021: educational bulletin (PDF, 541KB, 7 pages)

The government is committed to protecting workers’ rights and while the vast majority of businesses follow the law and uphold workers’ rights, the publication of this list serves as a reminder to employers that the government will take action against those who fail to pay their employees the minimum wage.

As well as advice for employers, HMRC offers advice for all workers on how to ensure they are being paid correctly via the Check your pay website.

Chair of the Low Pay Commission Bryan Sanderson said: “These are very difficult times for all workers, particularly those on low pay who are often undertaking critical tasks in a variety of key sectors including care.

“The minimum wage provides a crucial level of support and compliance is essential for the benefit of both the recipients and our society as a whole.”

nmw-naming-scheme-round-17-educational-bulletinDownload

National Living Wage extended to younger workers

The age threshold for the National Living Wage changes from 25 to 23 as the rate increases today (1 April).

The National Living Wage (NLW) will increase on Thursday 1 April to £8.91, giving a real-terms pay rise to millions of workers. At the same time, the age threshold for the rate will move from 25 to 23, meaning that thousands of young workers will be eligible for a higher wage floor.

These changes follow recommendations made to the Government by the Low Pay Commission (LPC) and are a first step towards the target of the NLW reaching two-thirds of median earnings for workers aged 21 and over by 2024.

In the 3 March Budget, the Government asked the LPC to monitor and evaluate the impact of these changes and recommend the rate that should apply from 2022. They asked the LPC to monitor developments in the labour market and advise on whether the target is achievable in the timeframe. The LPC will make its recommendations to Government on the 2022 National Minimum Wage rates in October.

Bryan Sanderson, Chair of the Low Pay Commission, said: “This has been an extraordinary year for all of us, but particularly for minimum wage workers, many of whom have worked throughout the pandemic in frontline roles or have worked in the sectors that have been hardest hit by lockdown measures.

“This week’s increase in the NLW is our first step towards the Government’s target of two-thirds of median earnings. It is a real-terms increase, meaning that an hour’s work can buy more than it could last year, at the start of the pandemic. The level of the new rate however also reflects the need to protect workers from job losses.

“Importantly, the NLW will now apply to workers aged 23 and over. This is an important change which is strongly endorsed by the Commission. Young people should be fairly rewarded for their work. We will seek to understand how young people’s pay and employment are affected by this in our consideration of a further reduction in the NLW age qualification to 21.”

The LPC has today published a short report which outlines how we will respond to our remit and approach our recommendations on the April 2022 rates, in the context of economic uncertainty and recovery from the pandemic.

The report sets out a pathway to the target of two-thirds of median earnings. Our best current estimate for the on-course NLW rate in 2022 is £9.42, a 5.7 per cent increase. However, this is subject to more uncertainty than usual and is likely to change. We will publish an updated path in the summer.

The other rates of the National Minimum Wage will also increase alongside the NLW.

Previous rateRate from April 2021Increase
National Living Wage£8.72£8.912.2%
21-22 Year Old Rate£8.20£8.362.0%
18-20 Year Old Rate£6.45£6.561.7%
16-17 Year Old Rate£4.55£4.621.5%
Apprentice Rate£4.15£4.303.6%
Accommodation Offset

Biggest ever increase to National Living Wage comes into effect

  • Full-time workers receiving National Living Wage will be more than £2,750 better off a year compared to 2015, when the rate was first announced
  • the National Living Wage will go up today by the highest rate since it was first introduced, increasing by almost 5% to £8.21 per hour
  • 2.1 million workers set to benefit from minimum wage increases, including almost 800,000 retail and hospitality workers
  • increases to the minimum wage rates form part of government’s commitment to protect the UK’s lowest paid workers through its modern Industrial Strategy

1.8 million workers earning the National Living Wage (NLW) will receive an additional £690 over the year from today (Monday 1 April), as the biggest ever increase to NLW comes into effect. Continue reading Biggest ever increase to National Living Wage comes into effect