HMRC has 'huge appetite' to clampdown on bosses who fail to pay workers the National Minimum Wage, says partner at BDO
Steve Talbot, partner and head of north global employer services at BDO, said HMRC has launched an NMW enforcement campaign, targeting locations with the highest percentage of underpaid workers.
According to BDO, HMRC’s initiative to stop workers being mistreated has Bradford as the latest location on its list, following action in Northern Ireland.
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Hide AdMr Talbot said: “The latest initiative from HMRC clearly shows that enforcement action is not off the table when it comes to ensuring every worker is paid the National Minimum Wage. The NMW campaign, specifically targeting Bradford, will inevitably lead to more employers being subject to a NMW inquiry, with a real risk of potential liability and reputational damage if they’re seen to fall foul of the law.”
In April, the National Minimum Wage, which applies to workers aged 23 and over, increased by 9.7 per cent to £10.42 per hour.
Mr Talbot added: “It’s widely known that HMRC’s budget for NMW enforcement grows year on year, as does the amount of NMW arrears being identified. HMRC continues to recruit and train officers in this area of compliance, demonstrating that there is clearly a huge appetite to clamp down on those businesses that are failing to pay workers the National Minimum Wage.”