Nearly 30 North East companies have been named and shamed by the Department for Business and Trade for failing to pay some of their employees the minimum wage. 

Nationwide, 524 businesses have been listed. In total, companies across the country avoided paying employees £16 million in a clear breach of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) law, leaving over 172,000 workers out of pocket.

The list contains some big names - like Greggs and Flamingo Land - who have dodged paying their employees by as much as £219k.

The government has said they want to send a "clear message that no employers are exempt from paying their workers the statutory minimum wage."

Thirsk MP and Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said: "Employees deserve to get paid properly for the hard work they put in.

"While the majority of businesses already do the right thing and pay their staff what they are owed, today’s announcement sends a message to the minority who aren’t - that there are repercussions to undercutting hard work from their staff."

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Here are the North East and North Yorkshire employers named and shamed for not paying minimum wage:

  1. Greggs Plc, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12, failed to pay £219,129.07 to 4,793 workers.
  2. Mr Mohammed Munir Ahmad and Mrs Maryam Ahmad, Stockton-on -Tees, TS17, failed to pay £7,433.04 to 7 workers.
  3. Coldtech Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Ltd, Middlesbrough, TS3, failed to pay £4,121.45 to 1 worker.
  4. Interlink Scaffolding Ltd, Birtley, DH3, failed to pay £2,492.83 to 14 workers.
  5. Lothian Light Haulage Ltd., Gateshead, NE11, failed to pay £2,409.90 to 49 workers
  6. Take 5 Caffe Stockton Limited (Dissolved - 06/10/20), Stockton-on -Tees, TS18, failed to pay £2,383.30 to 1 worker.
  7. HQ Salon Limited, Crook, DL15, failed to pay £2,120.68 to 1 worker.
  8. North Staffs Oatcake Bakers Limited, Newcastle, ST5, failed to pay £1,709.30 to 17 workers.
  9. Mr Steven Green, Ms S Merryweather, Ms Tracy Michelle Pallent and Mr Justin Bonner, Middlesbrough, TS5, failed to pay £1,495.72 to 3 workers.
  10. Shepherd Cox Hotels (Hartlepool) Limited (In Liquidation - 29/03/21), Hartlepool, TS24, failed to pay £1,422.43 to 3 workers.
  11. Paul Hamilton (Mo-Tech) Limited, Byker, NE6, failed to pay £1,332.06 to 1 worker.
  12. Bernadette Harris, Middlesbrough, TS6, failed to pay £1,272.61 to 1 worker.
  13. Moji Limited (Dissolved - 17/11/20), Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1, failed to pay £1,264.14 to 9 workers.
  14. HC-One Limited, Darlington, DL3, failed to pay £1,171.40 to 6 workers.
  15. Kelly’s Nails DTN Ltd, Whitley Bay, NE26, failed to pay £1,046.61 to 2 workers.
  16. Cleveland Scaffolding Limited, Stockton on Tees, TS18, failed to pay £1,010.73 to 3 workers.
  17. Whittaker’s Jewellers Limited, Stockton on Tees, TS15, failed to pay £952.22 to 27 workers.
  18. Little Legs Day Nursery Limited, Redcar, TS10, failed to pay £884.02 to 7 workers.
  19. Welday Limited, Washington, NE37, failed to pay £809.95 to 1 worker.
  20. Mrs Jane Taylor, Newton Aycliffe, DL5, failed to pay £802.95 to 2 workers.
  21. Ohayo Patisserie Ltd (Dissolved - 03/03/20), Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1, failed to pay £739.19 to 7 workers.
  22. Wheatley Hill Community Nursery Limited, Wheatley Hill, DH6, failed to pay £720.58 to 12 workers.
  23. Sagetech Machinery Limited, Ferryhill, DL17, failed to pay £710.89 to 1 worker.
  24. Karro Food Group Limited, Malton, YO17, failed to pay £2,669.84 to 73 workers.
  25. Flamingo Land Limited, Malton, YO17, failed to pay £3,033.57 to 4 workers.
  26. The Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant Ltd, Harrogate, HG1, failed to pay £2,801.41 to 2 workers.
  27. Alan Ransome Sporting Goods Group Limited, Middlesbrough, TS3, failed to pay £3,158.51 to 8 workers.
  28. Browns Hairdressing Limited, Durham, DH1, failed to pay £3,258.19 to 3 workers.
  29. James Alfred Carman, Houghton Le Spring, DH4, failed to pay £3,309.31 to 2 workers.