KPMG, Costa, and Rockstar Games among 389 UK firms named for underpaying workers
The UK government has named and shamed 389 employers for failing to pay workers the National Minimum Wage, forcing them to repay more than £7.3 million in owed wages to around 60,000 low-paid staff while slapping on £12.6 million in financial penalties.
The announcement, published Thursday (19 March) by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) following investigations by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), highlights ongoing enforcement efforts to protect vulnerable workers amid rising living costs.
It marks the first “naming round” since the Chancellor’s Budget pledge to increase the frequency of such publications.
Big-name companies appeared on the list, including professional services giant KPMG, coffee chain Costa, and video game developer Rockstar Games UK – the latter known for titles like Grand Theft Auto.
- Costa Limited ranked among the higher offenders, failing to pay £149,851.25 to 2,759 workers. The underpayments affected a large number of staff in the hospitality sector, where minimum wage compliance issues are common.
- KPMG UK Limited was cited for underpaying £13,087.57 to 59 workers. The breach involved a relatively smaller group but drew attention given the firm’s role in advising others on compliance and tax matters.
- Rockstar Games UK Limited failed to pay £1,396.73 to just 5 workers, a minor amount in the context of the overall list but notable for a high-profile entertainment brand.
The largest individual breaches came from other firms in sectors like social care, facilities management, and childcare.
Topping the list was ISS Mediclean Limited, which underpaid £1,506,959.68 to 6,580 workers, followed by ISS Facility Services Limited (£754,760.14 to 5,378 workers) and Browns Manufacturing Limited (£708,731.99 to 1,654 workers).
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said it was important to promote fairness in the labour market.
“The vast majority of businesses in this country do the right thing by paying their staff properly and playing by the rules,” Kyle said in an accompanying statement.
“It’s not fair on them when others are able to get ahead by not paying the wages their workers are owed. A good employer doesn’t build their business on the back of unpaid wages, and I look forward to working with the new Fair Work Agency to ensure its powers are used to crack down on those who think the rules don’t apply to them.”
The government noted that upcoming minimum wage increases, including the National Living Wage rising to £12.71 per hour for those 21 and over from April 2026, will deliver an extra £900 annually for full-time minimum-wage workers.
The new Fair Work Agency, launching 7 April under the Employment Rights Act, will consolidate enforcement of minimum wage, holiday pay, sick pay, and other rights.
The full list can be found here
