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<p>The Government is committed to increasing compliance with National Minimum Wage
legislation and the effective enforcement of it. HMRC responds to every complaint
it receives and conducts risk-based enforcement in sectors or areas where there is
perceived to be a higher risk of workers not being paid the National Minimum Wage.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has increased the NMW penalty so that employers
that break the law face a penalty equivalent to the arrears they owe, up to a maximum
penalty of £20,000 per worker.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Employers are also named
publically under the Government’s NMW naming scheme for non-payment. So far, 210 employers
have been named for non-payment of the National Minimum Wage and have been charged
financial penalties totalling over £248,000. In total, HMRC has recovered over £57m
in arrears for workers since 1999/2000.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Prosecution
is reserved for the most serious cases. HMRC will refer cases to the Crown Prosecution
Service who will decide whether to prosecute. Prosecution does not necessarily result
in arrears being paid to workers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The number of NMW
prosecutions for non-compliance in each of the last five years is set out below:</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>2014: 0</p><p> </p><p>2013: 1</p><p> </p><p>2012: 0</p><p>
</p><p>2011: 0</p><p> </p><p>2010: 1</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Anyone who thinks
they might be entitled to the minimum wage but have not been paid it should call the
ACAS Helpline on 0300 123 1100.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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