Thousands miss out on minimum wage
27th June 2011More than 3,400 workers across Wales have not been receiving the national minimum wage they are entitled to over the past eight years, figures have shown.
According to data obtained by Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood, more than 1,000 employers have disregarded the legislation covering minimum wage since 2002-03.
The less-than-deserved payments total £1,450,116, research shows, with no employers having faced prosecution.
Ms Wood, who represents South Wales Central, called for the issue to be tackled in the same respect as benefits cheats.
She said: “Low-paid workers must be protected but the law must be brought down as hard on employers as it is with benefit fraud.”
The hospitality sector fared worse with 23 employers breaching the legislation over the past year.
As of last autumn, workers aged over 21 are entitled to £5.93 per hour, with the salary due to rise to £6.08 from October.
A spokeswoman for HMRC said: “HMRC is determined to ensure workers receive their salary entitlement, and actively pursues those who are suspected of flouting the law. Criminal prosecution is reserved for the most serious and wilful cases of non-compliance.”
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