A PRIVATE school and a hairdressers are among more than 200 employers to be ‘named and shamed’ by the Government for failing to pay the minimum wage.

In total, 208 businesses across the country were ordered to repay approximately 12,000 workers.

Among them were Sibford School in Banbury and Woods Hair Limited, trading as Chapters Hair Design in Witney.

Sibford School, where fees for the senior school and sixth form this academic year reach more than £10,000 per term for full boarders, failed to pay £9,282.19 to five workers.

This occurred between September 2016 and June 2018.

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The school was established in 1842 and was originally based at Walford Manor, opening with just 26 boys and 22 girls.

In 2000, the original school building was sold with the proceeds used towards the building of a new art and music centre.

Meanwhile, Woods Hair Ltd failed to pay £901.56 to two workers between September and December 2017.

Across the country, 208 employers were found to have failed to pay their workers £1.2 million in a breach of national minimum wage law.

Businesses have since had to pay back what they owe to staff and also face significant financial penalties of up to 200 per cent of what was owed.

The investigations by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs concluded between 2014 and 2019.

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Paul Scully, minister for labour markets, said: “We want workers to know that we’re on their side and they must be treated fairly by their employers, which is why paying the legal minimum wage should be non-negotiable for businesses.

“The 208 businesses, whatever their size, should know better than to short-change hard-working employees, regardless of whether it was intentional or not.

“With Christmas fast approaching, it’s more important than ever that cash is not withheld from the pockets of workers. So don’t be a scrooge – pay your staff properly.”

The Low Pay Commission is an independent body which advises the Government on the national living wage and the national minimum wage.

Its chair, Bryan Sanderson, said: “The minimum wage is a success story welcomed by employees and employers alike, but it only works if everyone without exception obeys the law.

“We hope this latest naming round can continue to raise awareness of the most common mistakes businesses make and help protect low-paid workers from unfair treatment.”

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