These Essex businesses have been named and shamed for failing to pay workers the minimum wage.

Following investigations by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, a total of £2.1 million was found to be owed to over 34,000 workers by 191 UK employers – with four of those in Essex.

The breaches took place between 2011 and 2018 and the named employers have since been fined and made to pay back what they owed.

Convenience shop and newsagent operator, Martin McColl Retail Limited, trading under the trading names McColl's, and based in Brentwood, failed to pay £258,047.8 to 4,366 staff members across the country.

A1 Home Care Ltd in Chelmsford, which provides in-home care to residents across Essex, was found to have failed to pay £3,774.46 to 24 workers.

While Uttlesford based Ongar Motor Cycles Limited was fined for the £1,842.06 owed to one member of staff.

At Flying Start Day Nursery Chigwell Ltd, Epping Forest, nine workers were not paid a total of £1,390.66.

A government spokesperson noted that not all minimum wage underpayments are intentional and can occur when workers are being paid on or just above the minimum wage rate, and then have deductions from their pay for uniform or accommodation.

Business minister Paul Scully said: “Our minimum wage laws are there to ensure a fair day’s work gets a fair day’s pay – it is unacceptable for any company to come up short.

“All employers, including those on this list, need to pay workers properly.”

Employers who pay workers less than the minimum wage have to pay back arrears of wages to the worker at current minimum wage rates.

They also face fines of up to 200 per cent of arrears – capped at £20,000 per worker – which are paid to the government.

Chair of the Low Pay Commission Bryan Sanderson added: “These are very difficult times for all workers, particularly those on low pay who are often undertaking critical tasks in a variety of key sectors including care. The minimum wage provides a crucial level of support and compliance is essential for the benefit of both the recipients and our society as a whole.”