Employers breaking the law on minimum wage

Citizens Advice Scotland have called for action to force employers to obey the minimum wage laws, as evidence emerges that many workers are being exploited by employers who break the law.

Among the main points shown by the survey of CAB advisers:

• Over half (53.3%) say this is a ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ significant problem in their area. Only 3.7% said it wasn’t an issue at all.
• Nine out of ten say the problem is ‘the same or worse’ than it was two years ago, with less than 10% saying the problem is decreasing.
• Women are more than twice as likely to be affected than men, and over half of respondents said the problem affected migrant workers.
• In terms of age, young people are by far the most likely victims: 73.3% of CAB staff reported that the problem was worst for those under the age of 24. Indeed, over a third said they had seen it afflict those aged just 16-17.
• The industries where the problem is most endemic include hotels, restaurants and cafes, with hairdressers and the construction industry also mentioned by many advisers.