Poundstretcher has appeared on the largest ever list of employers who failed to pay their employees the minimum wage.
The Deighton-based discount store is among 198 employers named by Business Minister Margot James today for not paying employees the legal minimum.
The store appeared at number 174 on the list for owing £182.94 to two workers.
A spokesman said the non payment was down to admin errors - and the staff members had now been paid.
He said: “This related to two workers out of about 5,000 within an organisation that pays the minimum wage.
“As soon as the errors were recognised they were rectified.”
Meanwhile, Omega Proteins in Halifax appeared at number 10 in the list for owing £8,977.51 to five workers.
A spokesman for the food product company said: “Omega Proteins employs 298 people and the investigation carried out by the inspector covered a period of six years.
“There was no employee found to be directly paid below the minimum wage at any stage. The five employees that were deemed to be below the minimum wage threshold was due to the subsidised accommodation supplied by the company.
“Omega Proteins simply collected rent from the employees and paid the landlord on their behalf, and it was determined that this was above the threshold test.
“Since the investigation in 2015 procedures have been amended.”
And William Priestley Salon Ltd, Halifax, was in 94th place on the list after being found to owe £830.69 to one worker.
Owner Billy Priestley said the arrears came about because he did not know he had to pay his older apprentice for her college days as well as work days - and what had happened to him should serve as a warning to other business owners.
He said: “It was an honest mistake. Other employers should be aware that older apprentices should be paid for the time they are in coollege, even when they come off an apprentice wage. I wasn’t informed that I needed to do that, and I paid her straight back as soon as I found out.”
The worst offender was Italian restaurant San Lorenzo Ltd in Wimbledon, London, which owed £99,541.98 to 30 workers.
Business Minister Margot James said:
“This government is determined to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.
“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.”
