Companies in Sussex have been named and shamed for failing to pay employees the minimum wage.

Some 524 employers across the country were found to have failed to pay their workers nearly £16 million in a breach of the National Minimum Wage law, leaving over 172,000 workers out of pocket.

The businesses named in the government’s list have since paid back what they owe to their staff and have also faced financial penalties of up to 200 per cent of their underpayment. The investigations by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) concluded between 2015 and 2023.

The list comes as the National Living Wage is set to increase by 9.8 per cent to £11.44 an hour on April 1.

The companies in Sussex which failed to pay minimum wage to employees are:

  • EDB Hairdressing Limited, Horsham, RH12, failed to pay £2,483.59 to ten workers.
  • K.T. Electrics Limited, Haywards Heath, RH17, failed to pay £2,169.57 to two workers.
  • Green Cross Recruitment Ltd (Liquidation - 02/11/22), Eastbourne, BN22, failed to pay £6,854.03 to three workers.
  • Easy Let Rental Agents Limited, Hastings, TN34, failed to pay £1,957.56 to two workers.
  • P&A Company Limited, Chichester, PO20, failed to pay £1,750.46 to three workers.
  • Klodian Brighton Ltd, Lancing, BN15, failed to pay £710.02 to five workers.

A government spokesman said: “While not all minimum wage underpayments are intentional, the government has been clear that anyone entitled to be paid the minimum wage should receive it, and that enforcement action will be taken against employers who do not pay their staff correctly.”

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If workers suspect they are being underpaid, they can visit gov.uk/checkyourpay to find out more about what they can do.

Workers can also call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 or visit their website for free, impartial and confidential advice or complain to HMRC.

Independent Commissioner at the Low Pay Commission, Patricia Rice, said: “At a time when the cost of living is rising, it is more important than ever that these workers receive the pay to which they are entitled.

“NMW underpayment not only cheats workers of their rightful due, it leaves compliant firms undercut by those who do not abide by the law. By naming the firms responsible for significant underpayment, we raise awareness of the nature and the scale of underpayment and encourage all employers to ensure that they fully comply with the law.”