Register to get free articles
Want unlimited access? View Plans
Already have an account? Sign in
Lidl, Halfords and The Range are among a number of UK companies named and shamed by the Department for Business and Trade for paying some workers less than minimum wage between 2015 and 2022.
Lidl failed to pay £286,437.18 to 3,423 workers, Halfords failed to pay £140,829.79 to 4,341 workers and The Range parent company CDS Superstores failed to pay £89,158.47 to 1,648 workers.
Overall 518 employers and businesses named have since paid back what they owe to their staff and faced financial penalties of up to 200% of their underpayment.
A Halfords spokesperson said: “The issue relating to underpayment of the National Minimum Wage dates back to 2021 and has long since been resolved. The rates that we pay our colleagues are competitive and are at or above the minimum wage.
“However, in 2021 we found some historical work-related costs that should have been met by us as the employer rather than our colleagues. We moved quickly to identify those impacted in order to make the necessary payments. All of the costs involved are now met by the company.”
Justin Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, added: “There is no excuse for employers to undercut their workers, and we will continue to name companies who break the law and don’t pay their employees what they are owed.
“Ensuring workers have the support they need and making sure they receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work is a key commitment in our Plan for Change. This will put more money in working people’s pockets, helping to boost productivity and ending low pay.”
Retail Sector has approached Lidl and CDS Superstores for comment.
