"More than 500 companies named for not paying minimum wage", 21 February 2024

The UK government has pointed the finger at iconic British businesses such as EasyJet, Greggs, Hamleys and Harrods who it says have failed to pay staff members the minimum wage.

More than 500 companies have been named by the UK government for failing to pay the minimum wage.

"The 524 employers were found to have failed to pay their workers nearly £16 million [€18.7 million] in a clear breach of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) law, leaving over 172,000 workers out of pocket," Kevin Hollinrake MP, Department for Business and Trade, said in a press release.

The employers named include major high street brands.

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Estee Lauder, Greggs and EasyJet are among the well-known employers named by the government for failing to pay workers the national living wage.

Other employers on the list include recruitment company Staffline, which failed to pay more than £5m to nearly 34,000 workers.

Casino and bingo owner the Rank Group was second, underpaying 5,629 workers by £960,000, and Estee Lauder third, with 5,933 employees of the cosmetics giant receiving almost £900,000 less than they were due.

Pub chain Mitchell and Butlers, food giant 2 Sisters Poultry and NHS Highland were also among the top 25 worst offenders.

Other notable names on the list are Game Retail Limited, which failed to pay £58,475.54 to 4,979 workers, according to the government, and River Island, which owes £57,841.14 to 1,007 employees.

Iconic London toy shop Hamleys failed to pay £16,509.72 to 320 workers and BAE Systems Applied Intelligence Limited failed to pay £1,592.46 to one employee.

Near the bottom in 454th place is luxury department store Harrods, which is listed as failing to pay £775.04 to a worker.