Fish and chip shop underpaid nine workers

A FISH and chip shop in West Dunbartonshire has the largest bill in Scotland for underpaying workers.

The Fish and Chip Ship Ltd owes £4900 to nine workers following a crackdown on employers not paying the minimum wage.

In total, £2million back pay is to be paid out in Scotland.

Nineteen employers have been named and told to pay 90 workers overall back pay amounting to more than £35,000.

Retail and hairdressing businesses are among the most frequent offenders.

TDSL Accident Repair Ltd, based in Edinburgh, is next on the list with £4896 owed to three workers, while the Rainbow Room (Clarkston) Ltd, which has since changed names, failed to pay £4532 to 21 workers.

Since the scheme was introduced in 2013, 40,000 workers have received back pay totalling more than £6m, with 1200 employers fined £4m.

Current national minimum wage rates range from £7.50 an hour for those aged 25 and over to an apprentice rate of £3.50 an hour.

Scotland Office Minister Lord Duncan said: “Life is tough enough for folks today without employers trying to diddle their workers out of their entitlement.

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

“To hear that there are still companies that believe they can get away with underpaying their staff is unacceptable.

“If it takes naming and shaming to ensure that employers wake up to their responsibilities then the UK Government will not shirk from that task. Workers need to know that we have their back on this one.”