A DERRY business has been left red faced for failing to pay its staff the proper minimum wages as required by law.
Custom House Restaurant in Queens Quay failed to pay £365.16 to nine workers.
It is among 17 firms across the North of Ireland which were investigated by HM Revenue and Customs low pay unit and who were found to be not paying staff the right wages.
Derry Daily has tried to contact Custom House Restaurant for comment but its telephone number is constantly ringing out.
Debenhams Retail plc — which has five stores in the North, including one at the Foyleside Centre in Derrry — failed to pay £134,894.83 to 11,858 workers.
In Strabane, Boran-Mopack Limited, failed to pay £6,779.05 to one worker.
A spokesman for the packaging company said the underpayment was caused by a misunderstanding regarding an apprentice, which was subsequently rectified.
The National Minimum Wage ranges from £3.40 per hour for apprentices, to £7.20 an hour, which is called the National Living Wage, for those aged 25 and over.
The others businesses caught out were a Co Armagh recruitment firm, a Belfast Italian restaurant and a popular seaside bar.
The largest amount not paid was for £26,418.67, by Portadown firm WH Recruitment Ltd, which failed to pay the amount to 143 workers.
Bennetts Seafood Bar & Grill in Warrenpoint, failed to pay £7,300.15 to 25 workers.
Shine Hair Company in south Belfast, failed to pay £5,811.95 to one worker.
Fusion Heating Limited in Newtownards failed to pay £4,353.69 to two workers.
Rumour Espresso Bar Ltd in Armagh failed to pay £1,779.85 to five workers. .
Muldoon Transport Systems Limited in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, failed to pay £1,468.25 to seven staff.
Causeway Coach Hire, based in Ballymoney in Co Antrim did not pay £1,307.50 to 10 workers. The company declined to comment. Bangor car dealer Sammy Mellon and Sons Limited failed to pay £1,236.00 to one worker.
BC Plant Limited, Hillsborough, Co Down failed to pay £1,180.63 to five workers.
Well-known Belfast Italian restaurant Villa Italia failed to pay £928.41 to one of its workers.
McHenry’s Central Bar Ltd in Ballycastle, failed to pay £330.24 to one worker.
The former owners of the Curran Court Hotel Ltd in Larne failed to pay £282.88 to three workers.
McDowell’s Butchers in Carrickfergus failed to pay £359.49 to three workers.
Creativ3 Merchandise Ltd in Carrickfergus failed to pay £268.18 to one worker.
Fintan McGrady of McGrady Limited in Downpatrick failed to pay £113.33 to one worker.
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