Tulip Siddiq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2015-12-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) cases of national minimum wage compliance HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) National Minimum Wage Risk Unit has investigated, (b) Notices of Underpayment have been issued to employers for non-compliance, (c) employers have been fined the maximum amount for non-compliance and (d) employers have been taken to civil court or an employment tribunal by HMRC for failing to comply with the terms of a Notice of Underpayment in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke

The Government is committed to increasing compliance with minimum wage legislation and effective enforcement of it. Everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it. Employers who pay workers less than the minimum wage not only have to pay back arrears of wages at current minimum wage rates but also face financial penalties of up to £20,000 per underpaid worker.

I refer the honourable member to the answer provided at UIN 17623 for information on the number of investigations undertaken.

I refer the honourable member to the answer provided at UIN 16851 for information on Notices of Underpayment.

Information on the number of maximum penalties issued is provided in the table below.

I refer the honourable member to the answer provided at UIN 225468 for information on civil court and employment tribunals.