TEN Welsh employers have been ‘named and shamed’ for paying less than minimum wage.

The breaches took place between 2012 and 2018. Following investigations by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, a total of £78k was found to be owed to 171 workers.

Named employers have since been made to pay back what they owed, and were fined an additional £100k.

Among those being 'named and shamed' are Hasan Yalcin and Sultan Yalcin, trading as Bridge Kebabs (now under new ownership), on Anglesey who failed to pay £3723.68 to two workers and Menai Meats (Wales) Limited, Gwynedd council, L55, who failed to pay £23558.16 to 34 workers.

Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited, trading as Pontins, Sefton, PR8, failed to pay £29027.33 to 954 workers.

Pontins owns Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park in Prestatyn.

Business Minister, Paul Scully, said: "Welsh employers can’t take their eye off the ball when it comes to upholding workers’ rights.

“There is never an excuse to short-change workers and paying the minimum wage isn’t optional.

“It’s up to all employers in Wales, including those on this list, to check government guidance and pay workers properly.”

The UK Government gave millions a pay rise by increasing National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates in April 2021. The rise means someone working full time on the National Living Wage will be taking home £5,400 more annually than they were in 2010. Every single UK worker is entitled to the National Minimum Wage, no matter their age or profession.

Whilst not all minimum wage underpayments are intentional, it has always been the responsibility of all employers to abide by the law. Clear guidance is available on gov.uk, which all employers should check.

Minimum wage breaches can occur when workers are being paid on or just above the minimum wage rate, and then have deductions from their pay for uniform or accommodation.

The employers named as part of the full list on Thursday, August 5 previously underpaid workers in the following ways:

Failing to pay workers for all the time they had worked, such as when they worked overtime.

Paying the incorrect apprenticeship rate.

Failed to pay the uprated minimum wage.

Bryan Sanderson, chair of the Low Pay Commission, said: “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 including care.

"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.”