NI Businesses Named For Failing To Pay The Minimum Wage

As any employer should know the National Living Wage is now £12.21 an hour (since April 1st 2025), up from the previous £11.44 an hour. These figures are for any employee that is aged 21 or over. If you are between 18 and 20, the minimum wage is £10 an hour, if you are aged under 18 or on an apprentice rate an employee is entitled to at least £7.55 an hour.

Unfortunately some businesses in Northern Ireland have failed to comply with these regulations. 28 NI businesses have been named and have been ordered to repay the employees who have been short-changed. Across the whole of the UK a total of 518 employers have had to repay an overall total of around £7.4 million to approximately 60,000 workers, as well as having to pay financial penalties for failing to pay the minimum wage.

Worth About £1,400 A Year For Each Eligible Employer Working Full Time

It is estimated that the rise in the National Living Wage from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour is worth about £1,400 a year for each eligible employer who is working full time. It is vitally important that employers ensure that they are paying at least the National Living Wage so that they are complying with government regulations and giving their workers a fair and decent wage.

No Excuse For Employers To Undercut Their Workers

Here is what Minister for Employment Rights Justin Madders, said about this issue, as copied from an article by Clodagh Rice on the BBC News website. He said:

“There is no excuse for employers to undercut their workers, and we will continue to name companies who break the law and don’t pay their employees what they are owed.”

“This will put more money in working people’s pockets, helping to boost productivity and ending low pay,” he added.

As we know there can be oversights sometimes as businesses get bogged down with work, trying to turn a profit to ensure they stay solvent. But it is very likely many businesses know what they are doing when they underpay their staff and this is definitely not excusable. If they are not keeping up with regulations they need help in the form of a dedicated accountant who can run their payroll and ensure they are paying their taxes so they don’t fall foul of any big financial penalties. Employers have enough to do without having to deal with all the financial administrative duties that go with running a business.