TWO Northern Ireland businesses have failed to pay their employees the national minimum wage, according to a government report.
Coleraine-based homecare provider Bluebird Care and Fitzroy Builders in Newtownards failed to pay amounts totalling nearly £10,000 to 69 workers.
The report was published by the department of business, energy and industrial strategy and covers the whole of Britain and Northern Ireland.
The entire 'naming and shaming' list is comprised of 198 companies which failed to pay a total of nearly half a million pounds in wages to their workers.
Bluebird Care owed £3,707 to 67 workers and Fitzroy Builders owed £5,371 to two of its employees.
The minimum wage for those aged 25 and over is £7.20 per hour, while those 21 and over are meant to earn £6.70 per hour.
UK business minister Margot James said the government will continue in its bid to ensure all employers abide by the law.
“This government is determined to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few,” she said.
“That means making sure everyone gets paid the wages they are owed – including our new, higher, national living wage. It is not acceptable that some employers fail to pay at least the minimum wage their workers are entitled to.”
“So we’ll continue to crack down on those who ignore the law, including by naming and shaming them.”
Since the scheme was introduced in October 2013, 688 employers have been named and shamed, with total arrears of more than £3.5 million.
English football clubs Brighton and Hove Albion and Blackpool were also named in the list, each failing to pay one worker £2,861 and £517, respectively.
