Anger at Walsall FC community programme's minimum wage snub

The Saddlers' Community Programme was among 25 employers who were criticised for not paying the legal minimum.

It was included on a list of shame published by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills last week, which said £9,353.63 was not paid to six workers.

The charity said its inclusion on the list was because of a 'human error' made with pay that had been immediately rectified as soon as it was informed of the mistake.

But Lee Barron, Midlands regional secretary of the TUC, has called for greater fines against businesses which flout the rules.

He said: "The national minimum wage is a legal requirement and any firm not paying it should hold their heads in shame.

"We need to send a loud and clear message to such employers that they have nowhere to hide and will be named and shamed for not paying their workers what they are entitled to.

"Greater fines are needed to stop rogue bosses abusing workers by not paying the legal national minimum wage and it will be the mission of the Midlands TUC to make sure workers are protected and get what they are entitled to."

Walsall FC Community Programme was fined a total of £4,624.98.

Business minister Jo Swinson said that paying less than the minimum wage was wrong and illegal and employers needed to know that they will face tough consequences if they break the law.

She warned that the Government takes the enforcement of workers' rights seriously and those who don't pay will be named, shamed and fined.

Birmingham University's Barber Institute was also among those to be fined.

The university was put on the list because it paid a group of interns who had originally been taken on to do unpaid work.

Because the money it eventually chose to pay them was not the minimum wage, the institute it fell foul of the law.

The Barber Institute neglected to pay £25,553.40 to 16 workers and was fined £5,000.

Lyng Pharmacy in West Bromwich and Premier Autos, a garage in Hednesford, are also on a list published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The garage said it had staff member who turned 21 and was eligible for more pay but as soon as they realised they paid what he was entitled to.

Gurdal Ltd, which trades as Lyng Pharmacy, neglected to pay £4,120.94 to one person, resulting in a fine of £2,033.80.