Firm’s pay not up to the Pri-mark...

Fashion chain in list of 260 named and shamed

FASHION giant Primark paid nearly 10,000 staff below the national minimum wage.

The cheap chain, which made a £735million profit last year, ordered workers to wear black clothes for work – but refused to pay for them.

Having to buy the outfits themselves tipped the already low-paid staff below the minimum wage, HM Revenue and Customs ruled.

And some workers were affected by other charges which reduced their pay.

Primark has now repaid 9,735 underpaid staff a total of £231,973 and has been slapped with an undisclosed fine.

It comes after the Mirror exposed Primark owner Associated British Foods – run by £4.8milliona-year George Weston – as among FTSE 100 companies refusing to pay staff the voluntary living wage.

Primark is one of 260 firms on a list published today by the Government for failing to pay staff the legal minimum.

Sports Direct is another big name included, along with two employment agencies it used at its Shirebrook depot in Derbyshire.

Most breaches relate to delayed security checks at Shirebrook.

In total, the 260 companies underpaid 16,000 workers £1.7m in back pay and have been fined £1.3m.

Business Minister Margot James said: “There is no excuse for not paying staff the wages they’re entitled to.”

Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, said: “These companies rake in millions of pounds in profit yet seemingly think it’s OK to cheat workers who are already paid a pittance out of the wages they are legally entitled to. It absolutely stinks.”

Primark said it was “committed to the National Minimum Wage and has apologised to the employees concerned”.

Sports Direct said: “This matter relates to the historical situation in our warehouse.”