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Department for Business and Trade (DBT)Dress codesMinimum wage

Monsoon Accessorize’s dress code led to it not paying minimum wage

by Rob Moss 23 Oct 2015
by Rob Moss 23 Oct 2015 Monsoon Accessorize neglected to pay £104,507.83 to 1,438 workers. Photo: Photofusion/REX Shutterstock
Monsoon Accessorize neglected to pay £104,507.83 to 1,438 workers. Photo: Photofusion/REX Shutterstock

Fashion retailer Monsoon Accessorize has topped the latest list of companies named and shamed by the Government for unlawful underpayment of wages to its staff.

The high street brand, which has more than 1,000 stores worldwide, failed to pay the national minimum wage to 1,438 workers, underpaying them by more than £100,000.

Business minister Nick Boles named and shamed 115 companies, in sectors including hairdressing, retail, education, catering and social care, that owed their workers over £389,000 in arrears, following investigations by HM Revenue & Customs.

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“Employers that fail to pay the minimum wage hurt the living standards of the lowest paid and their families,” said Boles, adding that the Government was determined that everyone who is entitled to the national minimum wage receives it.

“Next April we will introduce a new national living wage, which will mean a £900-a-year pay rise for someone working full time on the minimum wage and we will enforce this equally robustly.”

Monsoon Accessorize had formerly required employees to wear Monsoon clothes in stores, available to staff at a discount. Because the purchase was compulsory, and was taken from employees’ wages, it meant workers were taking home less than the minimum wage.

In a statement the company said: “Monsoon Accessorize has recently been working with HMRC in a wide-ranging review of its payroll practices in relation to the national minimum wage.

“This review has revealed an historic, unintentional breach of the regulations in respect of its staff discount policies for Monsoon clothing. Monsoon is pleased that this issue has been identified and has already taken prompt action to remedy it.”

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The fashion retailer said it has since introduced a clothing allowance and raised basic wages to prevent it happening again.

The TUC estimates that at least 250,000 workers are denied their legal pay and that only a quarter of offenders are being caught.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It’s good to see that the Government is naming and shaming more companies who pay their employees less than the minimum wage. However, today’s list of offenders is only the tip of the iceberg. Many more employers are getting away with illegal underpayment.

“I am particularly saddened to see Monsoon Accessorize acting in breach of the law. A large firm with thousands of employees has no excuse for not having proper systems in place to ensure staff get their legal wages.”

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Hairdressers feature regularly in the list and, to improve compliance in the sector, HMRC has announced a campaign to drive voluntary behavioural change.

The full list of companies named today are as follows:

  1. Monsoon Accessorize Ltd, London W11, neglected to pay £104,507.83 to 1,438 workers
  2. Tyne & Wear Riding for the Disabled Association, trading as Washington Riding Centre, Washington, neglected to pay £27,151.79 to 6 workers
  3. Project Security UK Ltd, Doncaster, neglected to pay £23,857.11 to 18 workers
  4. Carl Keith Salons Ltd, Prescot, neglected to pay £20,535.03 to 5 workers
  5. Cornwall Glass & Glazing Ltd, trading as Exeter & MacKenzie Glass Centre, Exeter, neglected to pay £14,253.66 to 9 workers
  6. Mr Gholam Ghiassi, Chaigley, neglected to pay £14,208.40 to 2 workers
  7. Helen Woodend, trading as New Brooms, Burton-in-Kendal, neglected to pay £13,447.01 to 14 workers
  8. Stoke College Educational Trust Ltd, trading as Stoke College, Sudbury, neglected to pay £12,094.83 to 7 workers
  9. Village Garage Engineers Ltd, trading as Village Garage, Plean, neglected to pay £9,159.80 to 3 workers
  10. Aspect Plumbing & Heating Ltd, trading as Aspect Plumbing & Heating, Liverpool, neglected to pay £8,280.45 to 1 worker
  11. D A Elliott Farriers Ltd, Whitby, neglected to pay £7,516.44 to 3 workers
  12. Solex Systems Ltd (ceased trading), Broughton, neglected to pay £5,978.17 to 3 workers
  13. Ian Balfour & Caroline Balfour, trading as A E Taxis, Kirkcaldy, neglected to pay £4,757.59 to 3 workers
  14. Westbrookes Property Ltd, Nottingham, neglected to pay £4,661.73 to 9 workers
  15. Spirit Pub Company (Services) Ltd, Burton on Trent, neglected to pay £4,629.14 to 1 worker
  16. North Tyneside Learning Trust, trading as Woodlawn Special School, West Monkseaton, neglected to pay £4,312.19 to 1 worker
  17. Frederick Evans & Laureen Evans, trading as Manston Riding Centre, Ramsgate, neglected to pay £4,142.83 to 1 worker
  18. Continental Meat Supply Ltd, London SE17, neglected to pay £3,922.59 to 1 worker
  19. Greenwoods Hotel Management Ltd, trading as Greenwoods Hotel and Spa, Stock, neglected to pay £3,545.18 to 2 workers
  20. Supreme Care Services Ltd, Morden, neglected to pay £3,528.64 to 1 worker
  21. Margaret Jankowitz, trading as The Beeches Hair Studio, Clydebank, neglected to pay £3,283.36 to 3 workers
  22. Paterson SA Ltd, trading as Paterson SA Hairdressing, Edinburgh, neglected to pay £3,216.50 to 15 workers
  23. The RHU Ltd, Burgess Hill, neglected to pay £3,166.11 to 1 worker
  24. Mr Prakash Dattani, trading as Interpharm Chemist, Leicester, neglected to pay £3,077.55 to 2 workers
  25. SEM Electrical Ltd, Darlington, neglected to pay £2,666.09 to 1 worker
  26. Susan Beeks, trading as Waterside Hair & Beauty, Harmondsworth, neglected to pay £2,662.49 to 1 worker
  27. Bennett Homes Ltd, Manchester, neglected to pay £2,659.96 to 2 workers
  28. Andrew Warburton & Theresa Warburton, trading as Alesha Paul Hair Design, Manchester, neglected to pay £2,633.54 to 1 worker
  29. Subway Universal Ltd, trading as Subway, (Morden, Barbican, Richmond, Twickenham), London, neglected to pay £2,466.77 to 10 workers
  30. Elgan Davies Ltd, Cardigan, neglected to pay £2,312.62 to 1 worker
  31. C & R Tyres Ltd, Kelso, neglected to pay £2,261.60 to 3 workers
  32. AutoPanels North East Ltd, Chester le Street, neglected to pay £2,101.59 to 1 worker
  33. Giscombe Brown Ltd, trading as Nuba Hair & Beauty, Sheffield, neglected to pay £2,071.68 to 2 workers
  34. SCC Leisure Ltd, trading as Bar Soba, Glasgow, neglected to pay £2,015.82 to 1 worker
  35. Charsi Tikka Ltd, London E7, neglected to pay £1,823.19 to 1 worker
  36. Claire Beaty, trading as Innovations Hair Design, Windsor, neglected to pay £1,765.19 to 1 worker
  37. Mr Bernard Camish, Mrs Carol Camish, Mr James Coles & Mrs Ria Coles, trading as The Poplars, Trowbridge, neglected to pay £1,748.31 to 1 worker
  38. Nichola Crosby, trading as Beyond The Fringe, Cwmbran, neglected to pay £1,687.91 to 1 worker
  39. Paul Scully Ltd, trading as Scully Scully, Godalming, neglected to pay £1,660.85 to 1 worker
  40. P.K. Meats Ltd, Wimborne, neglected to pay £1,628.86 to 1 worker
  41. Your Leisure Kent Ltd, trading as Tides Leisure & Indoor Tennis Centre, Deal, neglected to pay £1,619.95 to 1 worker
  42. Cross Electrical Ltd, Surbiton, neglected to pay £1,597.41 to 1 worker
  43. March Hair Plymouth Ltd, Plymouth, neglected to pay £1,590.98 to 2 workers
  44. Carole Eustace & Mark Eustace, trading as Westfield Court Hotel, Sutton Coldfield, neglected to pay £1,510.78 to 1 worker
  45. Affinity Dental Ltd, Rochdale, neglected to pay £1,452.02 to 1 worker
  46. Norma Clark Hair & Beauty Ltd, Glasgow, neglected to pay £1,391.32 to 1 worker
  47. Young Men’s Christian Association Bargoed and District Branch, Bargoed, neglected to pay £1,372.12 to 1 worker
  48. Capital Care Services (UK) Ltd, London E18, neglected to pay £1,298.83 to 2 workers
  49. Assess to Progress Ltd, Pudsey, neglected to pay £1,286.76 to 3 workers
  50. Givehand Ltd, London E17, neglected to pay £1,281.89 to 2 workers
  51. Studio Fifty Six (Christchurch) Ltd, Christchurch, neglected to pay £1,243.82 to 2 workers
  52. Little Apple Ltd, trading as Sileby Day Nursery, Leicester, neglected to pay £1,229.21 to 2 workers
  53. Complete Joinery Midlands Ltd, Nottingham, neglected to pay £1,175.73 to 1 worker
  54. Printer Cartridge Supplies Ltd, Redruth, neglected to pay £1,096.19 to 1 worker
  55. Anthony Williamson, Salvatore Bifulco, Tracey Caswell & Leo Bifulco, trading as Your Lifestyle LLP, Gloucester, neglected to pay £1,092.85 to 16 workers
  56. Ellenborough Park Ltd, trading as Ellenborough Park Hotel, Cheltenham, neglected to pay £1,084.01 to 1 worker
  57. PCC UK International Ltd, trading as We Love Laptops, Lostock, neglected to pay £1,079.07 to 3 workers
  58. Metro Surveillance Group Ltd, Cookstown, neglected to pay £1,059.35 to 1 worker
  59. Joe Allen, trading as Joe Allen Electrical Contractors, Newark, neglected to pay £1,052.51 to 1 worker
  60. Leo Mancini Ltd, Ascot, neglected to pay £1,022.83 to 1 worker
  61. Sue Kramer, trading as Hillcrest Montessori Nursery School, Coulsdon, neglected to pay £1,018.79 to 1 worker
  62. Robert Huggett, trading as Robert & Sheron, Midhurst, neglected to pay £962.38 to 1 worker
  63. Christopher Spry Ltd, trading as Christopher Spry Hairdressers, Norwich, neglected to pay £931.54 to 1 worker
  64. Cannon Services (UK) Ltd, Aylesford, neglected to pay £871.03 to 1 worker
  65. Hyde Park Food Ltd, trading as Chicken Valley, London W12, neglected to pay £820.80 to 1 worker
  66. LS&R Ltd, trading as Omega Business Supplies, Stockport, neglected to pay £784.92 to 1 worker
  67. Waters & Sons Independent Funeral Directors Ltd, Southampton, neglected to pay £768.51 to 1 worker
  68. Xercise4less (Wakefield) Ltd, Wakefield, neglected to pay £751.29 to 1 worker
  69. Rasheed Mustafa, trading as Riverstone Property, Crawley, neglected to pay £742.91 to 1 worker
  70. KJM Autos Ltd, Hengoed, neglected to pay £736.12 to 1 worker
  71. MAC Repair Ltd, Leeds, neglected to pay £715.68 to 1 worker
  72. Meden Courier Services Ltd, Mansfield, neglected to pay £684.59 to 3 workers
  73. Lynsey Sellars, trading as La Belle Health & Beauty, Leeds, neglected to pay £659.40 to 1 worker
  74. Ground Events Ltd, trading as The Playground, London N15, neglected to pay £624.00 to 1 worker
  75. Ceredigion Couriers Ltd, Machynlleth, neglected to pay £620.55 to 1 worker
  76. Strathmore Hotels Ltd, trading as Royal Hotel, Argyll, and Salutation Hotel, Perth, neglected to pay £609.97 to 2 workers
  77. Duval Security Ltd, Derby, neglected to pay £520.00 to 1 worker
  78. ENA Ltd, trading as ENA Salon, London WC2B, neglected to pay £492.48 to 1 worker
  79. U & T Ltd, trading as The Sweet Spot, Hamilton, neglected to pay £482.64 to 2 workers
  80. Lee Nixon, trading as Mediabox Productions, Nottingham, neglected to pay £468.00 to 1 worker
  81. Christopher Whiteside, trading as The Hair Workshop, Lytham St Annes, neglected to pay £457.58 to 1 worker
  82. Findme4u Ltd, London SE12, neglected to pay £442.26 to 1 worker
  83. The Square Bar & Restaurant Ltd, Harrogate, neglected to pay £437.02 to 1 worker
  84. Wyin Innovations, Croydon, neglected to pay £417.51 to 1 worker
  85. Nightingale Social Care Staffing Agency Ltd, Barnsley, neglected to pay £405.47 to 1 worker
  86. Top Quote Ltd, Manchester, neglected to pay £391.89 to 1 worker
  87. Greg Heywood, trading as Vineyard King, Northampton, neglected to pay £353.93 to 1 worker
  88. Allen Avenue Ltd, Croydon, neglected to pay £347.24 to 1 worker
  89. Storm Commercials Ltd, Monk Bretton, neglected to pay £342.40 to 1 worker
  90. Michelle Marklow, trading as Shellies Flowers, Birmingham, neglected to pay £323.09 to 1 worker
  91. Sam Clackmannan (Scotland) Ltd, trading as Samantha Blues Hairdressing, Clackmannan, neglected to pay £319.29 to 1 worker
  92. Cocouk Ltd, trading as Le Dermex, Edinburgh, neglected to pay £305.50 to 1 worker
  93. Forward Life Ltd, Swansea, neglected to pay £286.00 to 1 worker
  94. Direct Windows & Conservatories (Staffordshire) Ltd, trading as Direct Windows & Conservatories, Stoke-on-Trent, neglected to pay £274.70 to 1 worker
  95. Impresstech Ltd, trading as Best One (ceased trading April 2014), London SW2, neglected to pay £272.34 to 1 worker
  96. International Business Action Ltd, trading as County Hand Car Wash, Morecambe, neglected to pay £266.50 to 1 worker
  97. Susan Turner, trading as The Belle Air Hairdressing Salon, Wakefield, neglected to pay £261.91 to 2 workers
  98. Commply (Yorkshire) Ltd, Leeds, neglected to pay £260.37 to 7 workers
  99. The Court Hotel (Bromley) Ltd, Bromley, neglected to pay £230.67 to 3 workers
  100. Sweetly Stevia (UK) Ltd, London SE16, neglected to pay £227.50 to 1 worker
  101. The Spa in Lancing Ltd, trading as The Spa in Lancing, Lancing, neglected to pay £192.26 to 1 worker
  102. Pimms Hair & Beauty Ltd, Aldershot, neglected to pay £178.22 to 2 workers
  103. Danhouse Security Ltd, London W6, neglected to pay £161.83 to 2 workers
  104. D K Forecourts Ltd, trading as Texaco Garage, Caerphilly, neglected to pay £156.00 to 1 worker
  105. Coach Travel Wales Ltd, trading as Coach Travel Wales, Aberystwyth, neglected to pay £153.52 to 1 worker
  106. D K Forecourts Ltd, trading as Pavilion Garage, Pontypool, neglected to pay £151.44 to 1 worker
  107. Pilning Kings Arms Ltd (previous owners), trading as The Kings Arms, Bristol, neglected to pay £143.72 to 1 worker
  108. Steve Efthimiou, trading as Mr Clutch, Luton, neglected to pay £135.24 to 1 worker
  109. Urban Angels (Didsbury) Ltd, Didsbury, neglected to pay £133.19 to 1 worker
  110. Huddleson Enterprises Ltd, trading as The Lock Keeper’s Inn, Belfast, neglected to pay £132.35 to 7 workers
  111. MLVH Ltd, trading as The Manor Hotel, Christchurch, neglected to pay £124.89 to 1 worker
  112. Mark Gosling, trading as Regency Autos, Penarth, neglected to pay £116.76 to 1 worker
  113. Bartek Deli Enterprise Ltd, trading as Polmar Supermarket, London W13, neglected to pay £110.50 to 1 worker
  114. Mrs Mary Forbes, trading as Mary Forbes Hairdressing, Dundee, neglected to pay £106.44 to 1 worker
  115. Cribs Estates Ltd, London SW19, neglected to pay £104.32 to 1 worker
Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. Rob specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and energy markets in Asia and the Middle East.

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