Independent garages and a parts supplier feature among the Government’s latest ‘name and shame’ list of employers who’ve failed to pay the national minimum wage.

Employers who pay workers less than the minimum wage not only have to pay back arrears of wages at current minimum wage rates but also face financial penalties of up to £20,000. In the most serious cases employers can be prosecuted.

Of all the 115 cases investigated by HMRC, four related to the automotive sector:

• C&R Tyres of Kelso failed to pay £2,261.60 to three workers.
• AutoPanels North East of Chester Le Street neglected to pay £2,101.59 to one worker.
• KJM Autos of Hengoed, neglected to pay £736.12 to one worker.
• Mark Gosling, trading as Regency Autos, Penarth, neglected to pay £116.76 to one worker.

Business Minister Nick Boles said: “Employers that fail to pay the minimum wage hurt the living standards of the lowest paid and their families.

“As a one nation government on the side of working people we are determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage receives it.

“Next April we will introduce a new National Living Wage which will mean a £900-a-year pay rise for someone working full time on the minimum wage and we will enforce this equally robustly.”

Employers have a duty to be aware of the different legal rates for the National Minimum Wage.

The current National Minimum Wage rates are:

• Adult rate (21 years old and over) - £6.70 per hour.
• 18 to 20-year olds - £5.30 per hour.
• 16 to 17-year olds - £3.87 per hour.
• Apprentice rate - £3.30 per hour.

The apprentice rate applies to apprentices aged 16 to 18 years and those aged 19 years and over who are in their first year. All other apprentices are entitled to the National Minimum Wage rate for their age.