SEVERAL Scottish companies are included in a list of employers who failed to pay their lowest paid staff the minimum wage.

The Department of Business and Trade found more than 200 employers who collectively failed to pay their workers almost £5 million in a clear breach of National Minimum Wage law.

It left around 63,000 workers out of pocket, with numerous Scottish businesses being included in the government’s list.

They range from car dealerships, hospitality venues and even a bowling alley.

The businesses named in the list have since paid back what they owe their staff and faced financial penalties.

Data shows that 39% of those on the list deducted pay from workers’ wages, 39% failed to pay workers correctly for their working time and 21% paid the incorrect apprenticeship rate.

Bryan Sanderson, the chair of the Low Pay Commission, said that naming the businesses caught not obeying the law was a useful tool in raising awareness.

“The minimum wage acts as a guarantee to ensure all workers without exception receive a decent minimum standard of pay,” he said.

“Where employers break the law, they not only do a disservice to their staff but also undermine fair competition between businesses.

“Regular naming rounds should be a useful tool in raising awareness of underpayment and helping to protect minimum wage workers.”

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The UK Government minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake, added that naming those caught out sent a “clear message”.

“Paying the legal minimum wage is non-negotiable and all businesses, whatever their size, should know better than to short-change hard-working staff.

"Most businesses do the right thing and look after their employees, but we're sending a clear message to the minority who ignore the law: pay your staff properly or you'll face the consequences."

Retail giants WH Smith, Marks & Spencer and Argos were also among firms featured in the UK-wide list. 

The Scottish businesses who failed to pay the minimum wage

  • Loganair Limited, Paisley, PA3, failed to pay £24367 to 43 workers.
  • OMI Facilities Limited, Glasgow, G4, failed to pay £20622.77 to 9 workers.
  • Macdonald Hotels (Management) Limited, Bathgate, EH48, failed to pay £16111.76 to 64 workers.
  • Baxterstorey Scotland Limited, Livingston, EH54, failed to pay £13618.29 to 186 workers.
  • Arnold Clark Automobiles Limited, Glasgow, G52, failed to pay £12215.56 to 48 workers.
  • The Park Hotel Ayrshire Limited, Kilmarnock, KA1, failed to pay £10088.99 to 129 workers.
  • Top Nails Livingston Ltd. - Dissolved 28/9/21, Livingston, EH54, failed to pay £9266.4 to 5 workers.
  • M1 Valet Centre Ltd - Dissolved 12/11/2019, Glasgow, G42, failed to pay £7807.71 to 3 workers.
  • The House of Bruar Limited, Perth, PH18, failed to pay £5543.8 to 57 workers.
  • Tenpin (Scotland) Limited, trading as Pro Bowl Glenrothes, Glenrothes, KY7, failed to pay £5174.65 to 1 worker.
  • Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club, Helensburgh, G84, failed to pay £4426.73 to 1 worker.
  • The Inveraray Inn Limited, trading as The George Hotel, Inveraray, PA32, failed to pay £2933.93 to 25 workers.
  • OMI Management Ltd, Glasgow, G4, failed to pay £1983.23 to 2 workers.
  • Mrs Patricia Jervis, trading as Bumble Beez, Dunfermline, KY12, failed to pay £1768.87 to 7 workers.
  • Sahara Global Ltd, trading as A1 Hand Car Wash, Dundee, DD1, failed to pay £1087.87 to 4 workers.
  • Portal Security Ltd, Glasgow, G67, failed to pay £927.61 to 55 workers.
  • LDH Hotels Limited, trading as The Tongue Hotel, Lairg, IV27, failed to pay £771.48 to 11 workers.
  • Ms Claire Frances, trading as Claire Frances Hairdressing, Glasgow, G3, failed to pay £739.02 to 1 worker.
  • Social Care Alba Ltd, Edinburgh, EH8, failed to pay £650.38 to 8 workers.