TWO Bury employers have been named and shamed for underpaying their workers by hundreds of pounds.

Eventmore Limited and Central Compensation Office Limited are among more than 350 companies named in the Government’s largest ever published list of firms who have failed to pay the national minimum or living wage.

Eventmore Limited, which is based in Heap Bridge, has been forced to pay back a total of £834.16 to one worker.

A company spokesman was not available for comment.

Central Compensation Office Limited, which is based in Warth Road, underpaid one of its staff members by £220.73.

On February 15, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy named 360 businesses who underpaid 15,520 workers a combined total of £995,233.

Debenhams Retail plc was the top offender, after failing to pay £134,894.83 to 11,858 workers.

Employers in the hairdressing, hospitality and retail sectors were found to be the most prolific offenders.

As well as recovering arrears for some of the UK’s lowest paid workers, HMRC issued penalties worth around £800,000.

For the first time, the list includes employers who failed to pay eligible workers at least the new National Living Wage rate, which is currently £7.20 for workers aged 25 and over.

Business Minister Margot James said: “Every worker in the UK is entitled to at least the national minimum or living wage and this government will ensure they get it.

“That is why we have named and shamed more than 350 employers who failed to pay the legal minimum, sending the clear message to employers that minimum wage abuses will not go unpunished.”

Excuses for underpaying workers included using tips to top up pay, docking workers’ wages to pay for their Christmas party and making staff pay for their own uniforms out of their salary.

Since the naming and shaming scheme was introduced by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in October 2013, more than 1,000 employers have been named with arrears totalling more than £4.5 million.

More than £2 million worth of fines have been issued and there are currently more than 1,500 open cases which HMRC is investigating.