The UK Government "named and shamed" a number of London businesses for failing to pay the minimum wage. Among them were an upmarket Mayfair restaurant and a string of department stores. Over 200 businesses, including well-known retailers like WH Smith, Marks & Spencer, and Argos, were required to repay the owed amounts and were fined approximately £7 million.
The government's list of employers who violated national minimum wage laws between 2017 and 2019 included thirty London-based businesses. Notable national chains, such as M&S, were named for failing to pay £578,390 to 5,363 workers, with the company attributing the issue to an unintentional technical problem concerning temporary workers.
Other businesses on the list included Executive Sport Limited, a sports development company in Wimbledon that owed £20,200.34 to eight employees. Park View Health Clubs Ltd, which operates three leisure centres in Barnet, owed £12,191.87 to four employees. Morleys Stores, running eight department stores in London, owed £11,640.77 to 78 workers. Roka Mayfair, an upmarket sushi restaurant near Oxford Street known for its £105 per person tasting menus, was also listed for failing to pay £5,741.87 to 16 workers.