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Written question asked by Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 19 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 May 2025 (named day). It was answered by James Murray (Labour) on Thursday, 22 May 2025 on behalf of the Treasury.


Living Wage: Prosecutions

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers were prosecuted for not paying employees the National Living Wage in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

Answer

HMRC’s priority is to ensure that workers receive the money they are owed as quickly as possible. It is for this reason, in the vast majority of cases, HMRC pursue civil enforcement. In 2023/24 civil enforcement resulted in HMRC issuing 767 Notices of Underpayment to employers. 2024/25 figures are not yet available.

However, for the most egregious breaches of National Minimum Wage law, where employers are persistently non-compliant, or refuse to cooperate with HMRC, criminal prosecution may take place.

The number of employers prosecuted specifically for breaching Section 31(1) “Employer refuses or wilfully neglects to pay NMW” in (a) 2023/24 was 1 and (b) 2024/25 was 1.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
53010
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Prosecutions Living wage
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk