A HAIR salon, a car collection firm and a fashion retailer are among 92 firms which have been named and shamed by the government for failing to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage.

Business minister Nick Boles said firms from the North-East and North Yorkshire in arrears included JG's Hair & Beauty Ltd, Northallerton, which had failed to pay £3,427 to three employees and Grove Reed Joinery Ltd, Bishop Auckland, which had failed to pay £1,514.20 to a worker.

Other firms on the list included Peterlee-based fashion retailer USUK Ltd, which trades as Urban Style, and had failed to pay £712 to four of its staff, car collection and car delivery company Nattrav Ltd, of Bishop Auckland, which failed to pay £287 to an employee and Illingworth Moor Retail Ltd, trading as Subway, Peterlee, which failed to pay £102 to two workers.

Since the scheme was introduced in October 2013, 490 employers have been named and shamed, with total arrears of more than £3m and total penalties of more than £1.1m.

Mr Boles said: “There is no excuse for not paying staff the wages they’re entitled to.

“Our policy of naming and shaming employers who ignore the law means there are consequences for their reputation as well as their wallets."