Northamptonshire companies fined thousands for breaking wage laws

Companies in Corby, Northampton, Wellingborough, Titchmarsh and Towcester have been publicly named after breaking the National Living Wage law.

They join nearly 200 employers from across the country named by Business Minister Margot James.

The firms were:

Forest Gate (Corby) Ltd, Corby, Northamptonshire, which owed £878.57 to four workers

Mr Darren Harding & Mrs Amy Harding, trading as The Wheatsheaf, Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire, who owed £1,792.69 to two workers

Mrs Rosemary Wight, trading as AJ’S Hair & Beauty Salon, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, who owed £972.41 to one worker

Mrs Rebecca Hodges & Mr Rob Hodges, trading as Flame Hair Studios, Towcester, Northamptonshire, who owed £1,146.46 to two workers

Ms Sue Newton, trading as Play 2 Learn Day Nursery, Northampton, who owed £735.48 to one worker

Terracotta Foods Ltd, trading as Freddy’s Chicken & Pizza, Northampton, which owed £370.80 to one worker

Nationally, the 198 companies named owed £466,219 in arrears, across a range of employers including football clubs, hotels, care homes and hairdressers. All of the money owed to these workers has been paid back to them.

Since the scheme was introduced in October 2013, 688 employers have been named and shamed, with total arrears of more than £3.5 million.

Business Minister Margot James said: “This government is determined to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

“That means making sure everyone gets paid the wages they are owed – including our new, higher, National Living Wage. It is not acceptable that some employers fail to pay at least the minimum wage their workers are entitled to.

“So we’ll continue to crack down on those who ignore the law, including by naming and shaming them.”

The National Living Wage for workers aged 25 and over was introduced in April this year, which has meant a pay rise of more than £900-a-year for someone previously working full time on the National Minimum Wage. For workers under the age of 25, the National Minimum Wage still applies.

It is an employer’s responsibility to be aware of the different minimum wage rates depending on the circumstances of their workers – and to make sure all eligible workers are paid at least the minimum rate they are entitled to.

The National Living Wage will be enforced equally robustly alongside the National Minimum Wage.