HMRC releases minimum wage underpayments data

Hospitality has been highlighted as having the highest number of jobs paid below the National Minimum Wage of any sector, according to data released by HMRC.

HMRC has said there were an estimated 54,500 jobs within the sector were paid below the minimum wage in April 2017. Retail was the next worst offending sector with 51,300 jobs paid below the minimum wage.

The financial year 2017/2018 saw 609 investigations closed across the accommodation and food services sector. These identified arrears of £1.8m owed to 11,366 workers. Across all sectors the year saw more than 200,000 workers paid less than the minimum wage identified and employers fined £14m.

The background data and report can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/742668/nmw-nlw-enforcement-compliance-report-2018.pdf  [See Annex A]