Telford businesses named and shamed for failing to pay minimum wage
Three businesses based in Telford have been named by the Government for failing to pay their staff the legal minimum wage.
The local companies are among 389 employers across the UK found to have underpaid approximately 60,000 workers, resulting in a massive crackdown that has seen £7.3 million in wages recovered for those affected.
The findings reveal that :
Infoteam International Services Limited, a distribution company based at Halesfield in the TF7 area, failed to pay £7,648.61 to 33 workers.
Global Minds Limited, an international IT consultancy with offices in TF3, was found to have underpaid one worker by £4,461.60.
Precision Colour Printing Limited, also located in the TF7 district, failed to pay £3,796.48 to 14 workers. According to their website, Precision Colour Printing is owned by Hypax, a Berlin and London based investment firm.
Nationally, the named employers face consequences beyond repaying the owed wages, with the Government issuing a total of £12.6 million in penalties. This action is part of a wider commitment to ensure workers are not made to pay for the mistakes or negligence of their employers, regardless of the size or reputation of the brand.
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 these figures more frequently. It precedes the launch of the Fair Work Agency on 7 April, a new enforcement body created through the Employment Rights Act to bring the enforcement of workers’ rights under one roof. The agency will eventually expand its reach to tackle those who break the law by denying holiday and sick pay.
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.”
The enforcement action comes ahead of further increases to the minimum wage, which will see full-time earners over the age of 21 receive an annual pay boost of around £900.
If workers suspect they are being underpaid, they can visit gov.uk/checkyourpay to find out more about what they can do.
