A HAMPSHIRE business has been named as one of the worst in the country for not paying its staff the minimum wage.

The Government has released the largest ever list of minimum wage offenders, naming and shaming companies that fail to pay employees the legal requirement of £6.70 per hour for over-21s, and slightly less for teens and apprentices.

Companies were ranked by the amount owed to workers.

RD Resourcing, based in Eastleigh, were forced to pay back the fourth highest figure in the UK to its staff.

The catering and hospitality recruitment firm, which changed owners in February, had to pay £14,350 back to 122 workers.

A spokesperson for RD Resourcing said: “RD Resourcing was sold to new owners in February 2016.

“The issues raised by HMRC relate to an administration error in deductions applied to employees’ earnings prior to the inspection held in March 2015.

“All the staff members affected were contacted and the error was rectified at the time.

“Since its acquisition the new owner has invested heavily both in IT and staff at RD Resourcing with the aim of ensuring the highest operational and ethical standards.”

Daily Echo:

Hotel firm Macdonalds runs plush getaways including Elmers Court, near Lymington

Macdonalds Hotels & Resorts Ltd, which operates the Macdonald Elmers Court Hotel & Resort near Lymington and the Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa in Boorley Green, were also named and had to pay back £2,123.10 to six workers.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “We employ over 4,000 people and all are paid at least the minimum wage, however, an error occurred in calculating the accommodation offset for six members of our live-in staff which regrettably caused this situation.

“We have already repaid each of them the money and apologised.”

SLRS Ltd, based in Southampton, made the list as a company which failed to pay staff the minimum wage.

The security management business, which trades under the name Stealth Security, had to pay back £366.26 to one worker.

No one from SLRS Ltd would comment when approached by the Daily EchoDaily Echo.

According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy the 198 named and shamed companies owed £466,219 in arrears after being investigated by HMRC. All of the money owed to workers has been paid back to them.

Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club were another business who failed to pay one member of staff the legal minimum and were forced to pay them £2,861.64.

Pizza firm Pappa Johns, which is the trading name of Cheasty Ltd, also made the list, owing £1,811.33 to 19 workers Business Minister Margot James said: “This government is determined to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

“That means making sure everyone gets paid the wages they are owed – including our new, higher, National Living Wage.

"It is not acceptable that some employers fail to pay at least the minimum wage their workers are entitled to.

"So we’ll continue to crack down on those who ignore the law, including by naming and shaming them.”