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Crackdown on minimum wage dodgers

Rogue employers who avoid their minimum wage responsibilities risk attracting the attention of a new government team.

The New Year sees HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) new Dynamic Response Team begin work on the most high profile and complicated National Minimum Wage cases faced by HMRC, particularly in areas where employers are using migrant labour to undercut competitors by paying below the minimum wage.

The team is funded from a £70 million government fund, paid for by a levy on migrant workers, to support communities feeling the impact of migration most strongly.

The team will be made up of specialist officers who are committed to providing a rapid response to cases across the UK ensuring that everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage receives it.

Business minister Pat McFadden said: “The government and HMRC are doing more than ever to make sure that those entitled to the Minimum Wage are receiving it. Evasion hurts both workers and responsible employers who play by the rules, so we are stepping up our fight against non-payment of the minimum wage.

“The Minimum Wage is a key part of the government’s strategy to establish fairness in the workplace and the benefits of the minimum wage are felt by about one million workers every year, especially women and part-time workers.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, said: “The government’s priority is to ensure that all workers are paid at least the National Minimum Wage, and HMRC enforce this robustly.

“This new Dynamic Response Team will respond quickly and effectively to National Minimum Wage non-compliance, making sure that employees are paid what they are legally entitled to.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .