Convenience stores among those breaking minimum wage law

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found that among all employers £2.1m was owed to more than 34,000 workers who were underpaid between 2011 and 2018.

All the businesses have been ordered to repay the workers and fined an additional total of £3.2m.

Although convenience stores were only a handful among the nearly 200 listed, they included the following:

• Martin McColl Retail Limited, Brentwood, CM15, failed to pay £258047.8 to 4366 workers
• One Stop Stores Limited, Walsall, WS8, failed to pay £56505.04 to 2631 workers
• 7 to 10 Food & Wine Ltd, Cardiff, CF3, failed to pay £9573.74 to 2 workers
• Your Local Food & Wine Ltd, trading as Premier, County Durham, DL15, failed to pay £6144.27 to 6 workers
• North East Convenience Stores Limited, trading as Spar, Northumberland, NE24, failed to pay £1853.62 to 81 workers
• Amar Anwar, trading as Benwell Post Office, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4, failed to pay £1711.04 to 2 workers
• R & A Food & Wine Ltd (Dissolved 05/11/19), Lewisham, SE4, failed to pay £678.6 to 1 worker

Business minister Paul Scully warned: “Employers that short-change workers won’t get off lightly”

Chair of the Low Pay Commission Bryan Sanderson added: “These are very difficult times for all workers, particularly those on low pay who are often undertaking critical tasks in a variety of key sectors.

“The minimum wage provides a crucial level of support and compliance is essential for the benefit of both the recipients and our society as a whole.