The Government has today (17 October) announced it has fined almost 500 individual companies for not paying workers the minimum wage, including several convenience store operators.
It reports that £6m has been put back into the pockets of working people as it delivers the biggest overhaul of workers’ rights in a generation, as part of its Plan for Change.
Convenience operators on the list include Euro Garages Limited, which failed to pay £824,383.62 to 3,317 workers; Lincolnshire Co-Operative Limited, which failed to pay £42,103.11 to 12 workers; East of England Co-Operative Society Limited, which failed to pay £32,111.03 to 1,165 workers; McColl’s Retail Group PLC, which failed to pay £18,179.12 to 332 workers and G.W. Proudfoot Limited, which failed to pay £16,461.34 to 210 workers.
Other independent retail businesses listed were Bells Supermarket in Kidderminster, which failed to pay £5,821.04 to 68 workers; Malcolms Stores Limited in Coventry, which failed to pay £3,137.94 to six workers and Sunningdale Stores Ltd, which failed to pay £5,358.00 to five workers.
In total, around 42,000 workers have been repaid by their employers, including many well-known high street brands outside of convenience, with employers receiving fines totalling £10.2m for breaking the rules.
The enforcement of workers’ rights is set to be boosted further through new Fair Work Agency, which will shield workers from employers who flout the law, the Government has said.
Speaking of today’s news, Business Secretary Peter Kyle (left) said: “Every worker deserves a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, and this government will not tolerate rogue employers who short-change their staff.
“I know that no employer wants to end up on one of these lists. But our Plan to Make Work Pay cracks down on those not playing by the rules. This ensures a level playing field where all businesses pay what they owe whilst workers receive the boost to their living standards they deserve.
As well as ensuring hard work is properly rewarded with fair treatment and decent pay, from April 2026 the Employment Rights Bill will also establish a new Fair Work Agency with more powers to tackle employers underpaying workers and failing to pay holiday and sick pay.
Today’s announcement follows significant increases to National Minimum Wage rates earlier this year. From April, millions got a pay rise with those on the National Living Wage who work full-time seeing their families supported by an extra £1,400 per year.
Niall Mackenzie, ACAS chief executive, added: “Not only is it important for employers to pay the correct minimum wage rates, it is also the law. Failing to do so can result in grievances and potentially legal action, including costly employment tribunals, as well as being named and shamed.
The full list can be read here.
If workers suspect they are being underpaid, they can visit gov.uk/checkyourpay to find out more about what they can do.
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