Workers in the Bradford area are being urged to check they are not missing out on wages, after £560,000 worth of arrears was paid out in the city.

The sum has been issued to 485 workers in Bradford who were underpaid the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage in the 2022 to 2023 financial year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced.

The National Living Wage is the minimum wage for those aged 23 and over.

The department is now sending around 74,000 letters to workers in the city and surrounding areas to remind people of the current National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, and to advise them on how to spot mistakes and report any concerns they may have about being underpaid.

HMRC has been raising awareness and reminding employers in the city of their legal obligations, after more than £1 million in penalties were handed out to employers for non-compliance in 2022/23.

Organisations in the Bradford area, including local accountancy firms, tax advisers, community groups and charities, are being reminded about the minimum wage so that they can help reach the most vulnerable workers at risk of not being paid the correct wage.

HMRC has also written to 8,000 employers to remind them of their legal obligations and highlight common mistakes which can result in underpayment. The letters contain a checklist for employers to identify any mistakes they may be making and offer the opportunity to have a support call with a specialist. More than 300 employers have so far taken up the offer.

Businesses, irrespective of their size, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff and, by law, workers must be paid at least the minimum wage for their age for all their time spent working. Employers who fail to comply risk being publicly named and penalties of up to 200% of their arrears.

The reminder letters are timely with the recent increase to National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates from 1 April 2023.

Marc Gill, Director of Individuals and Small Business Compliance at HMRC, said:

“People who are working, in Bradford and across the UK, deserve to get the pay they are due, which is why HMRC is raising awareness and providing advice to workers and their employers.

“HMRC will always take action against employers who fail to meet their legal obligations, but it is really important that people who think they may be being underpaid report it. Even if you are not affected yourself, you can help by reminding friends and family to check their pay and make sure they are not losing out.”