Britain has fined more than 200 companies, including top retailers WH Smith, Marks & Spencer and Argos, for failing to pay their lowest paid staff the minimum wage between 2017 and 2019.
The UK government said on Wednesday 202 businesses - ranging from major high-street names to small businesses and sole traders - had broken the law by leaving around 63,000 workers out of pocket.
The companies paid a combined 7 million pounds in fines for the breaches, the statement released by the government's department for business and trade said. The businesses also paid about 4.9 million pounds in arrears, a spokesperson said via email.
"Paying the legal minimum wage is non-negotiable and all businesses, whatever their size, should know better than to short-change hard-working staff," Kevin Hollinrake, a minister in the department, said.
"Most businesses do the right thing and look after their employees, but we're sending a clear message to the minority who ignore the law: pay your staff properly or you'll face the consequences," Hollinrake added.
WH Smith, a mainstay at Britain's airports and train stations, headed the list, having failed to pay 1 million pounds to 17,607 workers. M&S failed to pay 578,391 pounds to 5,363 workers, while Sainsbury's-owned Argos did not pay 480,094 pounds to 10,399 employees, the statement said.
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