A ROGUE Oxfordshire business has been named and shamed by the government for not paying minimum wage. 

HMRC listed 139 companies, including major household names, that short-changed their employees and have been fined. 

The firms have failed to pay a total of £6.7m to more than 95,000 workers. 

The companies were all investigated between 2016 and 2018 but the latest list was published on December 31. 

One of the main causes of minimum wage breaches was low-paid employees being made to cover work costs, which would eat into their pay packet, such as paying for uniform, training or parking fees.

Also, some employers failed to raise employees’ pay after they had a birthday which should have moved them into a different National Minimum Wage bracket for example a 17-year-old turning 18. 

Of the 139, only one Oxfordshire business was called out. 

Fewcott Healthcare Limited in Cherwell (OX27), failed to pay £1,575.00 to two workers.

The company runs a nursing home on Fritwell Road, Fewcott, near Bicester. 

Government business minister Paul Scully said: "Paying the minimum wage is not optional, it is the law. It is never acceptable for any employer to short-change their workers, but it is especially disappointing to see huge household names who absolutely should know better on this list.

"This should serve as a wake-up call to named employers and a reminder to everyone of the importance of paying workers what they are legally entitled to.

"Make no mistake, those who fail to follow minimum wage rules will be caught out and made to pay up."

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