Pub named and shamed for minimum wage underpayment

The Wheatsheaf Inn at Onneley in Crewe failed to pay £2,057.88 to five workers.

The pub is one of 25 employers to be named by the Government under rules that came into effect last October​. The companies have been ordered to pay fines totalling more than £21,000.

The employers were investigated by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) after members of staff called a free helpline to report they were being underpaid.

The Government has introduced a series of tougher measures to crack down on employers that break National Minimum Wage law.

As well as being publicly named and shamed, employers that fail to pay their workers the NMW also face new penalties of up to £20,000 - four times higher than before.

Consequences​

Business minister Jenny Willott said: "Paying less than the minimum wage is not only wrong, it's illegal.

"If employers break the law they need to know that they will face tough consequences. Any worker who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it."

The national minimum wage is currently £6.31 an hour for adults and will rise to £6.50 from October.