Dumbarton hair salon 'failed to pay minimum wage'

Lynne McCullough, trading as Lynne Capelli Salon in Woodyard Road, failed to pay £620.65 to three workers, according to the UK Government.

The salon staff were among 92 Scottish workers getting £116,697 refunded by 28 employers.

In a get-tough approach, the government says it will not stand by while companies diddle workers out of their pay.

Lord Duncan, UK Government Minister for Scotland, said: “Particularly at this time of year, every pound in workers’ pockets counts.

“The UK Government’s National Living Wage was established to ensure that everyone, everywhere, receives a decent income.

“It is unacceptable that some companies in Scotland still think they can get away with underpaying their staff.

“The UK Government will not stand for it, and will continue to ‘name and shame ‘ until all workers are properly paid.”

Retail, hairdressing and hospitality businesses were among the most prolific offenders, according to the report.

Common reasons for errors made include: failing to pay workers travelling between jobs, deducting money from pay for uniforms and not paying for overtime.

Meanwhile, Councillor Jim Bollan said it was totally unacceptable that some companies were not paying workers what was legally entitled to them and he called for the minimum wage to be set at £10.

Currently it is £7.50 per hour for people aged 25 and over and will rise in April to £7.83.

Cllr Bollan said: “The minimum wage is already too small, and no worker should be treated in this way.

“It’s also unacceptable that some of the larger companies are making billions but are not paying tax. They should be chased and told to pay up. We need to make the system fairer for all.

“If you ask any agencies working within the areas of poverty they talk about the ‘working poor’.

“These are the people who are having to tread water because of low pay and will remain in poverty unless things improve.”

In the UK as a whole, government investigators identified £1.7 million in back pay for some of the UK’s lowest paid workers and fined employers £1.3 million for underpayment.

Margot James Business Minister said: “There is no excuse for not paying staff the wages they’re entitled to and the government will come down hard on businesses that break the rules.

“That’s why today we are naming hundreds of employers who have been short changing their workers; and to ensure there are consequences for their wallets as well as their reputation, we’ve levied millions in back pay and fines.”

Bryan Sanderson, chairman of the Low Pay Commission, said: “The Low Pay Commission’s conversations with employers suggest that the risk of being named is encouraging businesses to focus on compliance.

“Further, it is good to see that HMRC continues to target large employers who have underpaid a large number of workers, as well as cases involving only a few workers, where workers are at risk of the most serious exploitation.

“It is imperative that the government keeps up the pressure on all employers who commit breaches of minimum wage law.

“If workers are concerned they are not being paid the correct rates then they can seek advice from workplace experts Acas.”

Lynne McCullough did not respond to calls from the Reporter before going to press on Monday.