Latest News

Workers in the South East of England to get wage boost

2nd June 2025
  • More money put into the pockets of hardworking people, as government delivers the biggest upgrade to worker’s rights in a generation, as part of the Plan for Change
  • Across the UK, 518 employers have been ordered to repay workers over £7.4 million after nearly 60,000 workers have been left out of pocket
  • 51 businesses in the South East of England have been named for failing to pay their employees the minimum wage

From Canterbury to Chichester, workers who have been left out of pocket will be repaid arrears the Government has announced today [Thursday 29th May] in its latest move to Make Work Pay.

This follows a significant uplift to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage – putting £1,400 into the pockets of full-time workers on NLW and supporting millions of families across the country – as well as the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation under the Employment Rights Bill.

As part of the Plan for Change, this Government’s priority is to grow the economy and raise living standards. A strong economy can only be built when people have financial security whilst in work and robust enforcement action will be taken against employers who do not pay their staff correctly.

Across the UK, 518 businesses were found to have failed to pay their workers over £7.4 million in a breach of the National Minimum Wage law, leaving almost 60,000 workers out of pocket. This includes 51 employers in the South East of England.

The businesses named today have since paid back what they owe to their staff and faced financial penalties of up to 200% of their underpayment. The investigations by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) concluded between 2015-2022.

Minister for Employment Rights Justin Madders said:

“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.”

 

The National Minimum Wage Naming Scheme exists to increase awareness of National Minimum Wage Legislation and to act as a deterrent to the minority of employers who may be tempted to underpay their workers.

This educational bulletin focuses on apprentices and dress codes.

This bulletin also includes some more general statistics regarding breaches of the National Minimum Wage legislation in this naming round.

Full information on how to make sure you are paying your workers the minimum wage can be found in the Calculating the Minimum Wage guidance.