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Three Bolton businesses named for not paying minimum wage
Three businesses in Bolton have been named by the government for not paying the national minimum wage to employees – including a law firm.
The government said that workers will be paid more than £7.4 million by employers after almost 60,000 have been left out of pocket.
The announcement came on Thursday, May 29, as part of the government's Plan for Change.
Along with this they also named 518 employers and businesses who have paid their workers less than the national minimum wage.
The investigations by HMRC into these businesses took place between 2015 and 2022 and they have all since paid back what they owe to staff – as well as being fined up to 200 per cent of their underpayment.
In Bolton, three businesses were named for underpaying their employees.
This included hairdresser Morgan Birt – with the employer listed as Jill Birt – who owed three workers a total of £9,819.79.
They were underpaid between October 5, 2015 and March 24, 2019.
Morgan Birt was contacted by The Bolton News but did not comment.
Morgan Birt hairdressers (Image: Google Maps) R Binks Construction Ltd was fined for underpaying three workers a total of £1,244.33 between April 1, 2015 and June 30, 2020.
Rob Binks, owner of the company, said that the underpayment was the result of an accounting error.
He said: "We don't do our own payroll – we have an accounting firm to do that – even they didn't pick up on it.
"We have not purposely gone out of our way, it's resulted from a mathematical calculation."
Mr Binks said that the amount was small and was only not paid "through a technicality".
He said: "It's just utter madness and it's all through circumstances – one was from Covid, we had an apprentice who started during covid and was put on furlough.
"We've been trading in Bolton for 15 years or so."
He said that the company has since switched accounting firms for "obvious" reasons.
Legal firm Forseti Law Ltd was also named – underpaying one worker a total of £1,403.87 between September 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021.
The firm has since closed according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and is listed as in liquidation on Companies House.
At the time the law firm was based in Exchange Street in Manchester before moving to Signature House in Blackburn Road, Bolton, in June 2021.
Signature House on Blackburn Road (Image: Google Maps)Have a story? Get in touch at
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.'
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The national living wage for people 21 and over has risen from £11.44 to £12.21 this year.
For 18-to-20-year-olds, it has risen from £8.60 to £10 and for under-18s and apprentices from £6.40 to £7.55.
If workers suspect they are being underpaid, they can visit to find out more about what they can do.
Workers can also call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 or visit their website for free, impartial and confidential advice or complain to HMRC at the pay and work rights helpline and complaints.
