Thousands of workers to get payout after employers – including Argos – failed to pay minimum wage – Scottish Daily Record

Thousands of the UKs lowest paid workers will share 2million in back pay in a scheme to name and shame employers who have failed to pay the National Minimum Wage.

Nineteen employers in Scotland, including hairdressing and retail firms, have been identified and ordered to pay 90 workers over 35,000.

UK-wide, the biggest offenders were the Argos chain, who failed to pay 1.4million to 12,176 workers.

As well as paying back staff the money owed, employers on the list have been fined a record 1.9million.

Since the scheme was introduced in 2013, 40,000 workers have received back pay totalling more than 6million, with 1200 employers fined 4million

Pat Rafferty, leader of the Unite union in Scotland, said: He added: Todays list of shame is only the tip of the iceberg.

The question is, what is to be done about this Dickensian disgrace?

Theres only one answer join a union. That is the only way to take on this modern-day slavery.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Ian Duncan said: To hear that there are still companies who believe they can get away with underpaying their staff is unacceptable.

If it takes naming and shaming to ensure that employers wake up to their responsibilities, the UK Government will not shirk from that task.

Workers need to know that we have their back on this one.

Employers excuses for underpaying workers included deducting money from pay packets to pay for uniforms, not paying workers for overtime hours and paying apprenticeship rates to workers.

Meanwhile, average weekly earnings have fallen across the UK despite record low unemployment rates.

Pay dropped 0.5 per cent over the three months to June compared with the same period last year.

The STUC accused Westmister of economic illiteracy for managing to hold down pay while more people get jobs.

Figures also showed the number of employed people in Scotland rose by 30,000 in the three months to June the fastest rate in the UK, equalled by London.

There are now 2,650,000 Scots in work 86,000 more than the pre-recession peak.

The UK rate jobless rate fell in the same period to 4.4 per cent.

SNP Economy Secretary Keith Brown welcomed the positive jobs figures.

He said: This is a further vote of confidence in our economy, coming after GDP figures showing Scotlands growth rate was four times faster than that of the UK over the last quarter, and recent reports of accelerating growth across the private sector.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said it was a trend I hope to see continue.

But STUC general secretary Grahame Smith said: The Scottish Government must use their tax and borrowing powers to invest in our public services and economic infrastructure.

And Stuart McIntyre, of the Fraser of Allander Institute, warned: We note that almost all of the recent rise in employment is among the self-employed, which may have implications for tax revenues and the hours and type of work undertaken.

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Thousands of workers to get payout after employers - including Argos - failed to pay minimum wage - Scottish Daily Record