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A Birkenhead car wash has been named among many North West employers who have been fined for underpaying their workers, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Bubble Hand Car Wash CH41, run by Sawat Kakabash, reportedly failed to pay £7,209.43 to nine workers, as referenced in figures released today by the UK government.
The business is one of 83 employers across the North West hit with a combined £530,000 in penalties after underpaying 1,600 staff members around £320,000. Across the UK, almost 660 employers have been named and shamed.
The car wash isn't the only Birkenhead business that's been named and shamed. Fast Food Birkenhead, trading as Ranchers Birkenhead, which is a chicken takeaway in Rockferry, has failed to pay £2.775.27 to two workers.
More than 20 employers have been named across Merseyside. Among them is Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in L7, which failed to pay £13,037.89 to 19 workers, while Flightcare Limited, trading as Broadway Residential Home in L4, owed £7,072.38 to 42 workers.
Two others were named in the Wirral: Trendy Pooches SB Limited, a luxury dog grooming company, failed to pay £1,350.31 to one worker, and Keep it Cheap Car Rentals Limited based in Bromborough, trading as KIC Garage Services, owed £616.55 to one worker.
The list is the first since the Fair Work Agency was established in April. The new enforcement body was created through the Employment Rights Act to bring workers' rights enforcement under one roof for the first time.
Minister for the Future of Work Kate Dearden said in a statement: "Underpaying your staff is illegal, and we will not let workers foot the bill for their boss failing to follow the rules. We're making sure workers get the hard-earned pay they deserve, and where employers fall short, they will be held to account."
Fair Work Agency Advisory Board chair Matthew Taylor added: "This naming round is an important reminder that paying the minimum wage is not optional – it is the law. Most employers want to do the right thing, and we will support them to comply, but those who fall short should expect robust enforcement to protect workers and maintain a fair playing field for responsible businesses."
The agency is urging all employers to check their payroll and correct any mistakes to ensure workers receive the pay they are entitled to.
