Estée Lauder, Harrods and Hamleys among 64 London firms which failed to pay minimum wage - full list

Iconic London toy shop Hamleys and luxury department store Harrods are among the London businesses which have been ‘named and shamed’ by the government for failing to pay the minimum wage.

More than 500 businesses across the UK, including major high street brands, were found to have failed to pay their workers nearly £16 million in a breach of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) law, leaving over 172,000 workers out of pocket. 

On April 1, the minimum wage is set to increase by 9.8% to £11.44 an hour. The government refers to the rate as the 'National Living Wage', but it is distinct from the rate calculated by the Living Wage Foundation based on the cost of living - currently £12 in most of the country but £13.15 in London.

A total of 64 London businesses were named following an investigation by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) concluded between 2015 and 2023.

Cosmetic giant Estée Lauder was the worst offender in London, failing to pay £894,980.43 to 5,933 workers.

A spokesperson for the company said it has “never intentionally paid our valued colleagues less than the minimum wage".

Other notable names included electrical and telecommunications retailer Curry’s, which failed to pay £122,801.34 to 4,109 workers.

Media giant Condé Nast, which owns Vogue and GQ, and has its UK headquarters in Westminster, failed to pay £3,507.21 to 47 workers.

Iconic London toy shop Hamleys failed to pay £16,509.72 to 320 workers, while luxury department store Harrods, was listed as failing to pay £775.04 to a worker.

Other businesses included on the list were a number of nurseries and pre-schools including Kendor Day Nursery in Croydon which failed to pay £2,639.70 to 6 workers.

A spokesperson for Estée Lauder said: “In 2019, like many other companies, we were made aware that we had misinterpreted guidance from HM Revenue & Customs on the way in which payment was taken for voluntary staff purchases of our concession products and on staff clothing requirements.We immediately made sure all affected employees were informed and reimbursed and updated our procedures.”

LondonWorld has contacted the other London-based businesses named above for comment.

Kevin Hollinrake, minister for enterprise, markets and small business, said: “Employees deserve to get paid properly for the hard work they put in.

“While the majority of businesses already do the right thing and pay their staff what they are owed, this announcement sends a message to the minority who aren’t - that there are repercussions to undercutting hard work from their staff.”

Independent commissioner at the Low Pay Commission Patricia Rice said: ”Since its introduction nearly twenty-five years ago, the national minimum wage has played a vital role in protecting the earnings of the lowest-paid workers in the UK. At a time when the cost-of-living is rising, it is more important than ever that these workers receive the pay to which they are entitled.”

The London-based businesses named in the government’s list

• Estee Lauder Cosmetics Limited based in Westminster failed to pay £894,980.43 to 5,933 workers.
• Moss Bros Group PLC based in Clapham Junction, Wandsworth failed to pay £188,199.04 to 1,303 workers.
• Currys Group Limited based in Westminster failed to pay £122,801.34 to 4,109 workers.
• Menzies Distributions Limited based in Tower Hamlets failed to pay £81,096.24 to 646 workers
• HC Facility Management In Administration (In Administration - 01/04/2021) based in Tower Hamlets failed to pay £76,880.90 to 2,848 workers.
• Winkontent Limited, based in Westminster and trading under Monocle failed to pay £76,501.85 to 57 workers.
• Laser Tradeco Limited based in Westminster failed to pay £68,150.80 to 399 workers.
• Barchester Healthcare Limited based in Islington failed to pay £58,694.17 to 674 workers.
• River Island Clothing Co. Limited based in Ealing failed to pay £57,841.14 to 1,007 workers.
• Sky Subscribers Services Limited based in Isleworth, Hounslow failed to pay £55,067.96 to 757 workers.
• Delaware North Companies (UK) Limited based in Uxbridge, Hillingdon failed to pay £54,257.01 to 374 workers.
• HICP Limited, based in the City of London failed to pay £38,532.59 to 258 workers.
• Cotswold Inns and Hotels Limited (Under new ownership) in Hounslow failed to pay £30,386.63 to 262 workers.
• Videobeat Networks Ltd (Dissolved - 01/03/22) based in Camden failed to pay £17,091.99 to 10 workers.
• Hamleys of London Limited in Westminster failed to pay £16,509.72 to 320 workers.
• Spring Studios Limited, Kentish Town, Camden failed to pay £15,677.29 to 74 workers.
• EC4 Hotel Limited, Charing Cross, Westminster failed to pay £15,174.31 to 104 workers.
• Angard Staffing Solutions Limited, Westminster, failed to pay £13,628.51 to 319 workers.
• Punjab Naans Limited, Southall, Ealing, failed to pay £11,810.58 to one worker.
• Select Service Partner UK Limited, Camden, failed to pay £9,309.98 to 456 workers.
• Rolarc Ltd based in Enfield, failed to pay £6,284.91 to one worker.
• Adelie Foods Limited in Hounslow failed to pay £7,925.76 to 293 workers.
• Tokyo Akafudaya (UK) Limited, based in Barnet trading under Eat Tokyo failed to pay £7,762.31 to seven workers. 
• Ribbon Basildon Limited based in the City of London, failed to pay £5,252.38 to 20 workers.
• MCS Cleaning Services Limited, Southgate, Enfield failed to pay £4,349.26 to 32 workers. 
• SJMS Limited in Southfields trading as Fazal Pharmacy failed to pay £3,926.18 to two workers.
• Conde Nast Publications Limited (The), in Westminster, failed to pay £3,507.21 to 47 workers.
• Mr Harpinder Singh based in West Ealing and trading as Dan’s Convenience Store failed to pay £3,376.80 to one worker.
• Satya Overseas Consultants Limited in Rainham, Havering, failed to pay £3,289.62 to 10 workers. 
• Chelsea Coachworks (UK) Limited based in Wandsworth failed to pay £3,068.08 to six workers.
• Brodie and Stone International Ltd (Previously Brodie and Stone International Plc) based in Soho, Westminster failed to pay £3,010.12 to three workers. 
• Kendor Day Nursery Ltd based in Croydon failed to pay £2,639.70 to six workers.
• Nati Ltd, based in Westminster, failed to pay £2,567.04 to three workers. (Cacio & Pepe)
• Mrs Zarkar Akhtar trading as Chingford House School and based in Waltham Forest failed to pay £2,401.59 to six workers. 
• Infinity22 Ltd based inTower Hamlets, failed to pay £2,296.48 to three workers.
• Little Robins Nursery & Preschool Limited based in Havering failed to pay £2,195.71 to 10 workers.
• Putney Plumbers Limited based in Wandsworth, failed to pay £1,990.89 to one worker.
• Red Miracle (Shrewsbury) Limited, trading as Domino’s Pizza and based in Isleworth failed to pay £1,957.51 to 65 workers.
• Red Miracle (Cranford) Limited based in Hounslow and trading as Domino’s Pizza failed to pay £1,822.61 to 62 workers.
• Collective Apparel Limited (In Liquidation - 22/10/21) based in Kingston Upon Thames, failed to pay £1,772.68 to three workers.
• Shocklogic Worldwide Limited based in Lambeth, failed to pay £1,580.19 to one worker.
• T2 Tea (UK) Limited (Ceased trading) based in Westminster, failed to pay £1,527.39 to 157 workers.
• Platform Support Services Limited based in Plaistow, Newham failed to pay £1,519.16 to 16 workers.
• Red Miracle Limited, trading as Domino’s Pizza and based in Isleworth, failed to pay £1,502.18 to 41 workers.
• Golden Eagle International Limited, based in Westminster failed to pay £1,409.60 to four workers.
• Red Miracle (Southall) Limited, trading as Domino’s Pizza and based in Southall, failed to pay £1,381.55 to 60 workers. 
• Mountain Warehouse Limited, based in Westminster, failed to pay £1,212.87 to five workers.
• Uffizi Hair and Beauty Gallery Limited based in Wandsworth failed to pay £1,189.61 to two workers.
• Reun Thai Ltd (Active proposal to strike off), based in Hammersmith & Fulham, failed to pay £1,088.39 to three workers.
• FQM Entertainment Limited based in Camden failed to pay £1,051.13 to one worker. Post Fashion
• First Choice Fruit and Produce Ltd, based in Wandsworth, failed to pay £1,041.25 to 11 workers.
• Hyde Consultants Limited, based in Waltham Forest, failed to pay £871.56 to one worker.
• Harrods Limited based in Knightsbridge, Kensington and Chelsea failed to pay £775.04 to one worker.
• Saks London Limited based in Wandsworth failed to pay £718.27 to one worker.
• London Security Services (UK) Limited, based in Greenwich, failed to pay £654.09 to one worker.
• Delta Nursing Agency Ltd (In Liquidation - 13/12/22), based in Deptford in Lewisham, failed to pay £631.40 to one worker.
• Ribbon Heathrow Limited in the City of London , failed to pay £630.38 to five workers.
• Cubian Ltd based in Chiswick, Ealing, failed to pay £576.05 to one worker.
• Jarokira Limited, based in Newham and trading as Koi Sushi Garden failed to pay £569.69 to one worker.
• Manti Evi Limited based in Harringay, failed to pay £568.84 to nine workers.
• The River Spa Ltd based in Pinner, Harrow failed to pay £559.65 to one worker.
• Pardis Way Limited based in Westminster, failed to pay £533.66 to one worker.
• ACM Meat Factory Ltd in Barking and Dagenham failed to pay £520.04 to five workers.
• Morgan Sindall Property Services Limited based in the City of London failed to pay £515.85 to one worker.