The government is planning to crack down on employers that flout minimum wage laws.
The Department of Trade and Industry wants to take a tougher stance on organisations which break the law, with offenders facing increased fines.
The move will please the TUC, which wants employers that break the law to be ‘named and shamed’.
The adult minimum wage increased to £5.35 per hour last October, which has benefited more than a million people.
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But last year, more than 1,500 employers were exposed for not paying the minimum wage to more than 25,000 workers.
Companies which refuse to comply will face a financial penalty after seven days – regardless of the reason for the infringement. The amount will vary depending on the size of the workforce, it is reported.