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Travel agencies named among 260 firms failing to pay minimum wage

Three Scottish travel agencies have been named among 260 employers for failing to pay at least minimum wage rates.

The 260 companies identified by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have been fined a total of £1.3 million.

This came as government investigators highlighted £1.7 million in back pay for a total of 16,000 workers.

Among those firms named were The Holiday and Flight Centre, of South Lanarkshire which failed to pay £2,242.08 to one worker.

Moorlands Travel (Kelty), of Fife, failed to pay £2,110.8 to two workers.

B & E Travel trading as Barrhead Travel, Fife, failed to pay £994.56 to one worker.

Airport ground handler Swissport was highlighted for failing to pay £841.34 to five workers.

A number of hotels across the country were also identified.

Retail, hairdressing and hospitality businesses were among the most prolific offenders.

Common reasons for errors made include failing to pay workers travelling between jobs, deducting money from pay for uniforms and not paying for overtime, according to the Department for Business.

Business minister Margot James said: “There is no excuse for not paying staff the wages they’re entitled to and the government will come down hard on businesses that break the rules.

“That’s why today we are naming hundreds of employers who have been short changing their workers; and to ensure there are consequences for their wallets as well as their reputation, we’ve levied millions in back pay and fines.”

A spokeswoman for Barrhead Travel said: “We are very sorry that one of the employees was underpaid due to human error. Once this was discovered by an independent audit, the appropriate payment was paid to the employee.  We work very hard to ensure we meet all our employer responsibilities which is why we addressed the issue as quickly as possible.”

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