A WINSFORD business has been named and shamed by the Government for failing to pay the minimum wage to an employee.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published a list of national minimum and living wage offenders, which includes Winsford Industrial Estate-based Saint Flooring Ltd.

The company underpaid one worker by £1,359.98.

Steve Turner, managing director of Saint Flooring, said: “This incident was involving a member of staff who is no longer with us and is due to appear in court for allegations of theft from the company.

“As soon as we were made aware of the wages owed, we paid the amount immediately.”

More than 350 employers have been named and shamed as the Government published the largest ever list of national minimum and living wage offenders yesterday.

Business Minister Margot James said: “Every worker in the UK is entitled to at least the national minimum or living wage and this government will ensure they get it.

“That is why we have named and shamed more than 350 employers who failed to pay the legal minimum, sending the clear message to employers that minimum wage abuses will not go unpunished.”

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy named 360 businesses who underpaid 15,520 workers a total of £995,233, with employers in the hairdressing, hospitality and retail sectors the most prolific offenders.

As well as recovering arrears for some of the UK’s lowest paid workers, HMRC issued penalties worth around £800,000.

For the first time, the naming list includes employers who failed to pay eligible workers at least the new National Living Wage rate, which is currently £7.20 for workers aged 25 and over.

Excuses for underpaying workers included docking workers’ wages for their Christmas party and making staff pay for uniforms out of their salary.