Staff still cheated out of minimum wage

Trade union the TUC has today claimed that workers, in particularly hospitality staff are still being cheated out of the national minimum wage.

Nearly a decade after the national minimum wage (NMW) was introduced on 1 April 1999, the TUC has calculated that at least 1.5 million workers are not receiving NMW by what they call 'dishonest employers'.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "The Revenue and Customs teams responsible for enforcement are doing a good job and have already retrieved millions of pounds from employers failing to pay the minimum wage.

"But TUC research suggests that there are at least 1.5 million workers across the UK who are still losing out. This shows the need for continued public funding for the National Minimum Wage helpline which allows people to make a complaint about an employer they suspect is not paying the minimum wage."

Findings showed that workers being cheated out of the minimum wage are most likely to be in London, the North West and Merseyside, or the South East, and employed in hotels, bars and restaurants.

The British Hospitality Association said that it backs the law and that employers within the industry must make sure they are operating correctly: "We are totally supportive of the NMW and any employer that pays less is breaking the law."

The NMW is:

£5.73 for workers aged 22 and over
£4.77 for workers aged 18
£3.53 for workers under 18

Words: Clare Riley

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