The UK government has named 389 employers that paid workers below the country’s minimum wage, as part of a commitment to publish its results more frequently.

In total, businesses underpaid workers by £7.3 million, with arrears periods ranging from a few months to several years. Alongside independent shops and restaurants, several big names were also found in breach.

Coffee shop chain Costa underpaid over 2,500 workers a total of nearly £150,000 over the course of five years, while luxury department store chain Harvey Nichols underpaid workers £7,537 over a two-year period.

Paying workers below the minimum wage is generally a civil offence in the UK, meaning there are financial penalties for companies that break the law. The government says these employers collectively face £12.6 million in penalties on top of the requirement to repay withheld wages.

Employment rights minister Kate Dearden said: “Nobody should finish a week’s work and find they’ve been paid less than they’ve earned. I believe in a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. That’s why we’re cracking down on employers who underpay. We’re making sure workers get the hard-earned pay they deserve. I encourage every employer to check their payroll to ensure they don’t get caught out.”

This is the last naming round before the UK’s new Fair Work Agency – a body that combines numerous existing state enforcement functions – begins its work on 7 April.

Although some major brands have failed to pay their employees correctly, others – including Aldi, Primark, and M&S – have raised their hourly pay above the rate of inflation this year.

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