The Government has released a list of almost 140 firms that in total failed to pay £6.7m to employees
The companies are being "named and shamed" by the Government for failing to pay workers the minimum wage, ranging from those with just one employee, to supermarket giant Tesco.
Ministers said the 139 companies have short-changed their employees and have been fined. The Business Department said it was a "completely unacceptable breach of employment law".
Tesco said it was "disappointed and surprised" to have been named as it had identified a technical issue in 2017 that meant some workers' pay "inadvertently" fell below the national minimum wage, adding that all those affected had been reimbursed.
Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club told there was a clerical error in 2017, which it had rectified and also conducted a full investigation.
“During the course of HMRC’s audit, one administrative employee was found to not have been paid in accordance with NMW regulations for a short period during 2017. This had been caused by a clerical oversight at the time the individual commenced employment with the company,” club spokesperson Alastair Hancock told the website.
Mr Hancock added the oversight was an isolated incident and immediately corrected, including making up full pay in line with minimum wage regulation for the period in question. He said such an oversight would not occur again in the future.
Ministers said the list of companies published by the Government should be a wake up call to "rogue" bosses.
Most Read
The list includes hotels, garages, a hairdresser, nail salon, car wash and shops found to have underpaid a single employee to thousands of staff.
The 139 named companies were investigated between 2016 and 2018 and found to have failed to pay £6.7 million to over 95,000 workers.
This is the first time the Government has named and shamed companies for failing to pay the national minimum wage since 2018, following reforms to the process to ensure only the worst offenders are targeted.
Business minister Paul Scully said: "Paying the minimum wage is not optional, it is the law. It is never acceptable for any employer to short-change their workers, but it is especially disappointing to see huge household names who absolutely should know better on this list.
"This should serve as a wake-up call to named employers and a reminder to everyone of the importance of paying workers what they are legally entitled to.
"Make no mistake, those who fail to follow minimum wage rules will be caught out and made to pay up."
One of the main causes of minimum wage breaches was low-paid employees being made to cover work costs, which would eat into their pay packet, such as paying for uniform, training or parking fees.
Don’t miss
Sign up for more business news straight to your inbox
Stay up to date with our daily newsletter, email breaking news alerts and weekly round-ups. To sign up, find out more and see all of our newsletters, follow the link here
Some employers failed to raise employees' pay after they had a birthday which should have moved them into a different minimum wage bracket.
A Tesco spokesman told the PA agency: "Back in 2017 we identified a technical issue that meant some colleagues' pay inadvertently fell below the national minimum wage.
"We are very sorry this happened and proactively reported the issue to HMRC at the time. All our colleagues were reimbursed in full and we immediately changed our policies to prevent this happening again. In most cases the reimbursement was £10 or less.
"Once we uncovered this mistake, we took a proactive, transparent and cooperative approach with HMRC.
"We are therefore extremely disappointed and surprised to have been included in this list as none of the examples shared by BEIS relate to Tesco, and it was Tesco that self-reported this issue to HMRC in the first instance.
"We take our obligations to our colleagues very seriously and all colleagues were reimbursed in full in 2017."
Hannah Slaughter, of the Resolution Foundation, said: "Low-paid workers have been at the heart of the Covid-19 crisis, keeping the country afloat as lockdowns come and go.
"These workers should be paid properly, and restarting the Government's naming and shaming regime will help to clamp down on firms flouting the minimum wage."
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "It's a national scandal that so many workers, many of whom are key workers, aren't being paid the minimum wage.
"Many of those who fail to pay their workers the minimum wage won't be named today. The Government raised the threshold for naming employers compared with the old scheme, meaning fewer bad bosses are exposed."
Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary, said: "It's good to see that robbing employers are being shamed, deservedly, again, but it would be far better to make stealing from them unappealing in the first place.
"Too many bad bosses get away with it. The rogues don't fear the inspector's knock at the door. They probably think, with justification, that they have more chance of winning the lottery than being caught for their crimes."
The full list of companies named for failing to pay the National Minimum Wage:
- Tesco stores Limited, Welwyn Hatfield AL7, failed to pay £5,096,946.13 to 78,199 workers
- Pizza Hut (U.K.) Limited, City of Edinburgh WD6, failed to pay £845,936.41 to 10,980 workers
- The Lowry Hotel Limited, trading as The Lowry Hotel, Salford EC4A, failed to pay £63,431.51 to 99 workers
- Doherty & Gray Limited, Mid and East Antrim BT42, failed to pay £43,470.16 to 128 workers
- Independent Care & Support Ltd, Medway ME2, failed to pay £40,275.17 to 55 workers
- Amber Valley Council for Voluntary Services, trading as Amber Valley Centre for Voluntary Services, Amber Valley DE5, failed to pay £37,346.46 to 104 workers
- Premier Care Limited, Salford M27, failed to pay £31.198.61 to 407 workers
- Hill Biscuits Limited, Tameside OL7, failed to pay £25,867.06 to 247 workers
- Sendon Garage Services Limited, Lambeth SW8, failed to pay £24,869.52 to 2 workers
- Natural Nails Beauty London Ltd, Haringey N15, failed to pay £15,265.58 to 4 workers
- Superdrug Stores PLC, Croydon CR0, failed to pay £15,228.57 to 2222 workers
- St Johnstone Football Club Limited (The), Peth and Kinross PH1, failed to pay £14,266.74 to 28 workers
- Home Grown Hotels Limited, New Forest SO43, failed to pay £13,790.44 to 25 workers
- Rebus Construction Ltd, Hart RH12, failed to pay £13,379.94 to 5 workers
- Mrs Emma Hartley, trading as Whitehall Hairdressing, Leeds, failed to pay £12,882.14 to 2 workers
- The Walshford Inn Limited, trading as The Bridge Hotel & Spa, Harrogate W1W, failed to pay £11,947.23 to 26 workers
- Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Armagh City, Banbrige and Cragiavon, failed to pay £11,285.34 to 269 workers
- Müller 海角视频 & Ireland Group LLP, Shropshire TF9, failed to pay £10,702.11 to 54 workers
- Dakota Forth Bridge Limited- Dissolved 20/03/2020, City of Edinburgh S70, failed to pay £10,236.50 to 4 workers
- Pinnacle PSG Limited, City of London NW1, failed to pay £10,166.03 to 10 workers
- Preystone Property Investments Limited, trading as Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant, Northumberland NE48, failed to pay £9767.15 to 26 workers
- Western Brand Poultry Products (NI) Ltd, Fermanagh and Omagh BT92. Failed to pay £9,275 to 50 workers
- Nahid Residential Limited, trading as Manor House Hotel, Guildford GU1, failed to pay £9,159.53 to 5 workers
- Norfolk Coastal Pubs Limited, trading as The Golden Fleece, North Norfolk NR23 failed to pay £8,141.69 to 14 workers
- Worldwide Foods (Birmingham) Limited , trading as Al-Halal Supermarket, Birmingham B10, failed to pay £8,062.88 to 1 worker
- Eat Food Limited, trading as Albatta Restaurant, Colchester CO1, failed to pay £7,987.15 to 5 workers
- G & J Properties Limited, Bolton BL7, failed to pay £7,858.16 to 1 worker
- Adi's Hand Car Wash Ltd - Dissolved 19/02/2019, Barking and Dagenham RM8, failed to pay £7,750.84 to 2 workers
- South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Lisburn and Castlereagh BT16, failed to pay £7,564.66 to 193 workers
- Discount Wallpapers Limited, trading as O'Neills Decorating Centre, Bolton WA12, failed to pay £7,446.14 to 11 workers
- Sturgess & Thompson Limited, Leicester LE1, failed to pay £7,385.40 to 2 workers
- Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast BT9, failed to pay £7,303.41 to 192 workers
- Helio Leisure Limited, trading as Helio Fitness, Fylde FY3, failed to pay £7,298.69 to 26 workers
- Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim and Newtownabbey, failed to pay £6,900.72 to 146 workers
- Hoar Cross Hall Limited, East Staffordshire OX7, failed to pay £6,651.94 to 26 workers
- Renard Resources Limited, Westminster WC2E, failed to pay £6,492.95 to 484 workers
- Imago @ Loughborough Limited ,Charnwood LE11, failed to pay £6,319.05 to 101 workers
- Western Health and Social Care Trust, Derry City and Strabane, failed to pay £6,170.97 to 170 workers
- Littlemoss Preservation Limited, Tameside M43, failed to pay £5,434.18 to 4 workers
- Mr Phillip Brookman, trading as Phillip Brookman Decorator & Plasterer, Cardiff failed to pay £5,141.70 to 1 worker
- & H Electrical Limited, Torbay TQ2, failed to pay, £5,139.02 to 6 workers
- Mr Jonathan Evans, trading as Jonty Evans Equestrian Activities, Gloucester, failed to pay £5,008.16 to 5 workers
- SKL Professional Recruitment Agency Limited, trading as SKL Homecare, Hertsmere WD19, failed to pay £4,628.69 to 43 workers
- Wigan Rugby League Club Limited, trading as Wigan Warriors, Wigan WN5, failed to pay £4,559.24 to 1 worker
- Mr Blerim Bajrami, trading as Secure Hand Car wash, Cannock Chase, failed to pay £4,475.01 to 3 workers
- Tring Park Day Nursery Ltd, Dacorum HP23, failed to pay £4,415.63 to 2 workers
- Pet Charmer Ltd - Company in liquidation April 2019, trading as Wild Animal Adventures and Pet Mania, Stockton-on-Tees LS15, failed to pay £4,168.90 to 1 worker
- WKW Partnership Limited, trading as Cairngorm Hotel, Highland KA21, failed to pay £4,057.00 to 7 workers
- Mr Roan Bradshaw and Ms Joy Bradshaw, trading as First Glance, Lewisham, failed to pay £3,997.58 to 1 worker
- Costco Wholesale 海角视频 Limited , Hertsmere WD25, failed to pay £3,747.52 to 58 workers
- Gregg Little Testing Centre Limited, County Durham TS18, failed to pay £3,703.90 to 4 workers
- Solent Build Group Limited - Company Status Liquidation 06/12/2018, Southampton SO51, failed to pay £3,676.33 to 1 worker
- Blakerin International Holdings Limited, trading as Cumbria Park Hotel, Carlisle LA12, failed to pay £3,611.13 to 46 workers
- Multitech Site Services Limited, Uttlesford CM6, failed to pay £3,294.52 to 1 worker
- Dr Jaskaram Bains and Dr Bernie Chand, Hanwell Dental Practice, Unknown, failed to pay £3,072.25 to 5 workers
- Byron Hamburgers Limited, Westminster W1D, failed to pay £3,062.03 to 77 workers
- Nina's Nursery (Davenport) Limited, Stockport SK2, failed to pay £3,058.20 to 18 workers
- Walton Bannus Estates Limited, Harborough LE17, failed to pay £3,051.60 to 2 workers
- Circus in Schools Limited - Notice of voluntary strike-off - Nov 17, Cornwall TR13, failed to pay £2,958.85 to 2 workers
- KKM Enterprises Limited- Liquidation- 23/08/2019, trading as The Cleaning Company, Redbridge B77, failed to pay £2,876.68 to 4 workers
- The Bobby Dhanjal Practice Limited, trading as Bobby Dhanjal Wealth Management, Blaby LE19, failed to pay £2,868.69 to 3 workers
- Manor House Country Hotel Limited, Fermanagh and Omagh BT94, failed to pay £2,837.04 to 139 workers
- Morden Estates Company Limited, Dorset BH20, failed to pay £2,761.45 to 43 workers
- The Education Development Service Ltd, Telford and Wrekin TF4, failed to pay £2,520.40 to 2 workers
- Mr Malcolm Gilmour and Mr David Gilmour, trading as Gilmour Bros, South Lanarkshire, failed to pay £2,446.58 to 3 workers
- Storrs Hall Limited, South Lakeland BB1, failed to pay £2,402.23 to 3 workers
- DCS&D Limited Heritage Healthcare, Darlington DL1, failed to pay £2,393.39 to 13 workers
- Rainbow Room (East Kilbride) Limited, South Lanarkshire G74, failed to pay £2,378.77 to 15 workers
- Mr Darran Vaughan, trading as VAS Car Sales, Newry, Mourne and Down, failed to pay £2,351.41 to 1 worker
- Mr Gnanenran Arumugam, trading as Lavender Convenience Store, Cheshire East, failed to pay £2,335.88 to 1 worker
- The Calderdale Community Childcare Company Ltd, Calderdale HX2, failed to pay £2,321.81 to 2 workers
- Gzim Workshop Limited Valeting Car wash, Haringey N17, failed to pay £2,297.21 to 3 workers
- Alaska Fast Foods Ltd - Dissolved 05/02/2019, trading as Freddy's Chicken & Pizza, Hyndburn M21, failed to pay £2,180.93 to 7 workers
- Tracy Hart, trading as Little Oaks Pre School, Dacorum, failed to pay £2,134.47 to 1 worker
- Chi Yip Group Limited , Oldham M24, failed to pay £2,121.51 to 14 workers
- Four Pillars Hotels Limited, Harrogate HG2, failed to pay £2,092.55 to 29 workers
- Mr William Fleeson, trading as Rainbow Room International, Stirling, failed to pay £2,089.66 to 11 workers
- D & D Decorators Limited, East Ayrshire KA3, failed to pay £2,080.35 to 1 worker
- Kiddi Day Care Limited-Liquidation of the company commenced Feb 2019, trading as Blue Giraffe Childcare, Birmingham SA1, failed to pay £1,978.57 to 9 workers
- Dessian Products Limited, Belfast BT12, failed to pay £1,885.00 to 1 worker
- Crewe Hotel Trading Limited, trading as Holiday Inn Express Crewe, Cheshire East S43, failed to pay £1,871.52 to 19 workers
- Fast Fresh Ltd- Liquidated Dec 2019, trading as Subway, Sunderland BN1, failed to pay £1,833.02 to 3 workers
- Document Transport Limited, trading as Kegworth Hotel, North West Leicestershire PE2, failed to pay £1,801.07 to 10 workers
- Larne Coachworks Limited, Mid and East Antrim BT1, failed to pay £1,791.69 to 1 worker
- Mrs Therese Ann Binns, trading as Winston Churchill, Bradford, failed to pay £1,774.35 to 3 workers
- Mr Brian Wilde, Ms Mariella Gabbutt, Mr Tony Wilde, Mr Joseph Wilde, trading as J & B Wilde & Sons, Manchester, failed to pay £1,717.23 to 4 workers
- 海角视频S Group Limited, Bristol, City of BS1, failed to pay £1,666.88 to 13 workers
- LM Bubble Tea Ltd, trading as Mooboo, Liverpool L15, failed to pay £1,628.49 to 14 workers
- The Wensleydale Heifer Limited, Richmondshire DL8, failed to pay £1,625.89 to 3 workers
- Fewcott Healthcare Limited, Cherwell OX27, failed to pay £1,575.00 to 2 workers
- Hotel Birmingham Ltd , trading as Travellers Inn, Sandwell B69, failed to pay £1,516.25 to 3 workers
- Keasim Glasgow Limited, trading as Malones Glasgow, Glasgow City G2, failed to pay £1,503.43 to 1 worker
- Shades Hair Design Limited- Dissolved 18/12/2018, trading as Shades Hair & Beauty, Bridgend CF32, failed to pay £1,487.98 to 2 workers
- Signature Inns Limited, trading as Westmead Hotel, Bromsgrove B48, failed to pay £1,456.81 to 5 workers
- Kingsland Engineering Company Limited (The), North Norfolk NR26, failed to pay £1,331.79 to 4 workers
- The Roxburghe Hotel Edinburgh Limited (we have been notified that this company is no longer operating and that the Roxburghe Hotel is under new management), City of Edinburgh EH3, failed to pay £1,317.43 to 47 workers
- Business Services Organisation, Belfast BT2, failed to pay £1,310.69 to 32 workers
- Clare McFarlane and Suzanne McGill, trading as Rainbow Room International, South Lanarkshire, failed to pay £1,304.77 to 16 workers
- Mrs Krystle Purdy, trading as Krystalized, Epping Forest, failed to pay £1,294.13 to 1 worker.
- Oakminster Healthcare Limited, trading as Cumbrae House Care Home, Glasgow City G41, failed to pay £1,292.30 to 21 workers
- Rainbows Day Care (Pembrokeshire) Limited-Company dissolved 03/03/2020, Pembrokeshire SA66, failed to pay £1,273.38 to 46 workers
- Maltings Entertainment Limited, trading as Carbon Nightclub and The Mill Bar and Grill Restaurant, Mid Suffolk IP6, failed to pay £1,263.44 to 1 worker
- Ben Ong 海角视频 Limited - Company Status Liquidation 28/11/2018, Barnet N12, failed to pay £1,257.12 to 3 workers
- Mr Nosh Fusha, trading as Green Lane Car Wash, Walsall, failed to pay £1,254.73 to 1 worker
- Cygnet Health Care Limited, Tonbridge and Malling TN15, failed to pay £1,249.55 to 15 workers
- Thurlaston Meadows Care Home Ltd, Rugby CV23, failed to pay £1,223.54 to 1 worker
- Trent Park Catering Limited Companies Status- Active Proposal to Strike Off, trading as Trent Park Café, Enfield EN4, failed to pay £1,213.77 to 10 workers
- Lord Hill Hotel Limited, Shropshire SY2, failed to pay £1,168.91 to 18 workers
- Smart Solutions (Recruitment) Limited, Newport NP18, failed to pay £1,152.09 to 90 workers
- Black Rock Hotels Limited, trading as Leighinmohr House Hotel,Mid and East Antrim BT42, failed to pay £1,138.05 to 30 workers
- Gino's Dial-A-Pizza Ltd, Cannock Chase WS11, failed to pay £1,117.38 to 7 workers
- Mitras Automotive (海角视频) Limited, Cheshire West and Chester CW7, failed to pay£1,048.29 to 3 workers
- Anjana Bhog Sweets Limited-Dissolved 17/09/19, Brent UB3, failed to pay £1,020.00 to 1 worker
- Mr Mohammed Nasir, trading as Omar Khayyam, City of Edinburgh, failed to pay £935.31 to 2 workers
- About Face Beauty Clinic Limited, Glasgow City G74, failed to pay £924.51 to 6 workers
- Mr Howard Coy, trading as H Coy & Son, Melton failed to pay £902.29 to 1 worker
- Jameson Knight Estates Limited-Dissolved 29/01/2019, Tower Hamlets E2, failed to pay £885.06 to 2 workers
- Croome International Transport Limited, Maidstone ME17, failed to pay £869.19 to 8 workers
- Rainbow Room (24 Royal Exchange Square) Limited, Glasgow City G1, failed to pay £851.70 to 6 workers
- The Coaching Inn Group (No2) Limited-Application for voluntary strike-off - Dec 2019, Boston PE21, failed to pay £811.88 to 2 workers
- Cotswold Motor Group Limited, Cheltenham GL51, failed to pay £796.31 to 2 workers
- Glenpac Bacon Products Limited , Newry, Mourne and Down BT35, failed to pay £752.02 to 2 workers
- Mistsolar Limited, trading as Bridgend Ford, Bridgend CF31, failed to pay £739.00 to 1 worker
- Robinson's of Failsworth (Bakers) Limited, Tameside M35, failed to pay £736.82 to 9 workers
- Mr Timothy Lock and Mrs Beatrice Lock, trading as Woodborough Hall, Gedling, failed to pay £723.60 to 2 workers
- Nova Display Limited, Leeds LS25, failed to pay £722.78 to 1 worker
- Dessert House on the River Limited- Compulsory notice to strike off - 17/03/20 suspended 29/04/20, trading as Kaspa's Desserts, Lewisham M16, failed to pay £719.10 to 1 worker
- Mr Edwin Minchin, trading as Eddie's Diner, Great Yarmouth, failed to pay £670.13 to 3 workers
- The Izaak Walton Hotel (Dovedale) Ltd, Staffordshire Moorlands LA22, failed to pay £667.60 to 2 workers
- Mr David Blake, trading as Foxhills Farm and Riding Centre, Walsall, failed to pay£667.54 to 1 worker
- Shaoke Hospitality Ltd- Dissolved 30/04/2020, trading as Mooboo, Leeds L15, failed to pay £664.94 to 5 workers
- Richard Webster & Co Limited, Eastleigh SO50, failed to pay £621.23 to 1 worker
- Newemoo Limited, Birmingham B5, failed to pay £591.86 to 2 workers
- Regional Buildings Assessments LLP, Hyndburn BB1, failed to pay £562.89 to 2 workers
- Ace Hospitality Ltd, trading as Holiday Inn Express Birmingham- South A45, Birmingham B73, failed to pay £556.15 to 14 workers
- Mrs Elizabeth Norris and Dr Terry Hooper, trading as St Bart's Day Nurseries, Dover, failed to pay £552.53 to 9 workers
- The Club Company (海角视频) Limited, Wokingham RG10, failed to pay £540.30 to 11 workers
- Eat Tokyo Limited, Barnet NW11, failed to pay £530.83 to 2 workers
- Molescroft Nursing Home (Holdings) Limited, trading as Beverley Grange Nursing Home, East Riding of Yorkshire HU13, failed to pay £510.24 to 1 worker